Aesop's Fables > Aesop's Artifacts > Boxes > Lacquer Boxes

Lacquer Boxes

1980? Russian lacquer box from the village of Palekh illustrating five different stories by Ivan Krylov. Paper mache, gold ink, handmade and handpainted, signed by the artist. 4½" x 4½" x 3½". Excellent condition. $76 from Yury Korchinsky, Reseda, CA, through Ebay, August, '99.

This black box is octagonal, with each of the square's edges turned into a very short side. The colors are lovely. Each of the images has a gold-ink background, and each of the short sides a gold-ink branch pattern. The inside is painted a simple bright red. The five fables--each labelled in Russian with a title--are, if one faces the box, "Trishkin's Kaftan" (top), "Demianov's Fish Soup" (front), "The Cat and the Cook" (right), "The Peasant and the Bear" (back), and "The Wolf in the Kennel" (left). I presume that this is a one-of-a-kind item. It is simply exquisite!

 

The images are arranged here as they are on the box.  Click on an individual image to see it upright and in larger format.

Peasant and Bear2mini.jpg (19841 bytes)

Palekh Wolf in the Kennelmini.jpg (16455 bytes)

trishkina3minic.jpg (38474 bytes)

Cat and Cook2mini.jpg (18927 bytes)

fish soup2mini.jpg (19149 bytes)

1990? Russian lacquer box, signed by Fedoskino artist Zaitseva.  3" x 2½" x 1½" high.  The scene depicted on the cover is FC.  $23 from Nickolai, St. Petersburg, Russia, through Ebay, May, '01.

This is as detailed a presentation of the specifics of the FC scene as I have witnessed.  The bodies of both fox and crow are directed to the other.  I have long waited to see fable scenes presented on Russian lacquer boxes, and here my hope is fulfilled. 

Click on the image to see it enlarged.