Palekh artist Arsenij Smirnov gives us a pleasant image of old Europe, and judging by the water which goes right up to the castle, the scene might take place in or around Venice. Smirnov shows a group of young people playing music and enjoying their company in a small boat. A maiden reads on the shore, protected by her trusty dragon. And on the other side of the water, four people on horseback stroll by at a leisurely pace. All is well, and, in fact, an angel above insures that this is the case. Smirnov branches out a little from traditional Palekh art with a scene much lighter than usual for this village, which is known for its dramatic black backgrounds. But Palekh is also famous for its precise ultra thin brush strokes of gold, and Smirnov follows tradition here in many parts of the scene (all difficult if not impossible to see in photos of the box.) The gold in the wings and horn of the angel are also more prominent and radiant than the picture of the box might suggest. The box is made out of high quality papier mache and does not have a hinge. It has a traditional red interior. Signed with the name of the artist, village, title and year.

Lacquerbox Condition Ratings

Surface Condition (exterior)	Surface Condition (interior/bottom)	Box Materials and Soundness	Hinge and Lid Placement	Signature	Total Rating	Mother-of-pearl Condition
9.5	9.5	10.0	10.0	10.0	49	N/A

(Each category rated 1-10. For low scores, look for explanation in the description of box. In general, any total rating over 40 is excellent. For more information on rating system, click here.)