Alyonushka - Old Russian lacquer box

Artist: Fedorova 
Village: Palekh
Size: 5.5" x 1.5"  
Year: c. 1979

This beautifully detailed Russian lacquer box features a scene from the Rusian fairy tale Alyonushka. The artwork, painted in rich, luminous colors, shows Alyonushka seated in a wooded setting, her expression serene and sorrowful. Delicate gold accents highlight the intricate foliage and traditional costume, while a faint image of her enchanted brother, transformed into a goat, stands at her feet. The scene is framed by ornate golden borders, capturing the magic and melancholy of this classic Russian folk tale.

The box was done by the artist Fedorova from the village of Palekh, one of the four main villages known for doing this art form.  It is not dated but likely was done in the 1970s or 1980s as the words "Made in USSR' are written at the bottom of the box in gold.  The lacquer has thinned a little over the years but there are no cracks or major defects to it.