"Russian Fairy Tales" lacquer box

Artist:  Nina Suloeva
Village: Palekh
Dimensions:  4" x 3.25" x 3.5" 

This richly decorated Russian lacquer box is a magnificent work by Palekh artist Nina Suloeva, known for her masterful storytelling and intricate brushwork. Crafted from papier-mâché and set on four raised legs, the box features five distinct panels, each illustrating a scene from a classic Russian fairy tale. With her signature style of vivid coloration, gold leaf embellishment, and lyrical composition, Suloeva transforms the entire surface of the box into a theatrical stage for folklore to unfold.

The top of the box depicts The Tale of Tsar Saltan, where Prince Gvidon, in gleaming armor, first encounters the magical Swan Princess—a pivotal moment rendered with elegance and motion beneath a canopy of trees. Each of the four side panels continues the celebration of Russian literary heritage with scenes from other beloved tales. One panel shows the climactic moment from The Tale of the Golden Cockerel, where the magical bird, perched above, casts judgment as conflict brews below. Another side vividly captures the dramatic rescue in Ivan Tsarevich, the Firebird and the Grey Wolf, as the prince, astride his horse, flees with the princess while the grey wolf and Firebird follow with supernatural speed and urgency. On another face of the box, Ruslan and Ludmila are brought to life in a moment of confrontation and valor, surrounded by the ornate architecture of a magical realm. Finally, The Tale of the Dead Princess and the Seven Bogatyrs is illustrated in a moment of quiet sorrow and enchantment, with the princess seated pensively as magical figures swirl above her in the night sky.

Surrounded by elegant floral and scrollwork borders in gold, each miniature scene is exquisitely composed and rendered with extraordinary attention to detail. Suloeva's box is more than a decorative object—it is a curated anthology of Russian myth and poetry, brought to life in miniature form. This piece exemplifies the best of Palekh tradition, where fine artistry and folklore merge to tell timeless stories on the smallest of canvases.