Show all images on one page	#006287 Title: Princess Frog Artist: Suloeva Nina Size: 8x8x4.5 Size (inches): 3.25x3.25x1.75 Price : $350 SOLD!

This exquisite box has been painted by the talented Palekh artist Nina Suloeva, who has a distinct style among her painting peers. She does a wonderful job in coordinating very bright colors in small areas to burst with life and animation. She is also a good teacher, and her son Pavel is coming on strong with a style of his own as well.
The composition shows a scene from the popular Russian fairy-tale "Princess Frog". A powerful Tsar noticed that it was time for his three sons to be wed. He summoned them all at once and told them to each fire a single arrow into the air. The closest maiden to each fallen arrow would become that son's wife. Ivan and his two brothers shoot arrows into the air to find their future brides. A frog catches Ivan's arrow and this is who he is obligated to marry.
The composition is painted in the traditional Palekh style. The artist did a wonderful job in the development of texture. The leaves of the trees twinkle like the coins in a treasure chest. This is due to the consistent use of bubbling golden contours. The characters clothes have been highlighted in this manner as well. The greens, deep blues, oranges and reds give off new radiance because of these highlights. As a genre scene, this Russian lacquer miniature couldn't be more appealing.
An elegant ornament of gold filigree frames the composition. The sides of the box are adorned with the spectacular swirling leaf fronds resembling the delicate and ornate patterns of a peacock feather. Suloeva uses aluminum to create silver metallic petals to add additional beauty to this wonderful golden ornamentation. The box is constructed from papier-mache. Black lacquer is used to paint the exterior of the box while red lacquer completes the interior. The lid isn't hinged and the box sits on a small platform. The box is signed with the artist's name, village and year (2003).