Seated in the shade of birch trees, the Snow Maiden meekly watches the other youth at play. The lush greenery, bright red flowers on the ground, flow of the river - everything around her seems to rejoice at the coming of summer. Only the gentle Snow Maiden cannot partake in their joy: she belongs to the winter. Her blue and white garment contrasts starkly with the black background and bright red in the composition to highlight her incongruity in this radiant summer scene. A curl of white smoke streaming upwards remind of Snow Maiden's fragile and transient nature. The composition is nuanced with layers and strokes of gold and is surrounded by an elaborate gold ornament. Another gold ornament adorns the sides of the box.
The box is made from high quality papier mache. It sits flat with no legs and has a hinge on the left. The interior is traditional red. Lacquer is in very good condition.