Russian Lacquer Box “By the Fireplace” – Fedoskino

This Russian lacquer box “By the Fireplace” from Fedoskino is a handcrafted work of art in the tradition of Russian miniature and lacquer painting. The lid features an expressive portrait of a young Russian boyar's daughter in historic dress. The finely detailed depiction, vivid colors and richly decorated garments give this hand-painted Fedoskino box its distinctive artistic character.

The combination of traditional Russian craftsmanship, a glossy black lacquer finish and delicate gold ornaments makes this Russian lacquer box an exceptional collector's item for lovers of Russian art, culture and history.

“By the Fireplace” – Portrait of a Russian Boyar's Daughter

The elaborate lid motif depicts a young woman in traditional Russian festive dress, associated with life among wealthy boyar families in old Russia. In medieval and early modern Russia, boyars belonged to the influential nobility.

The young woman wears a magnificent red gown with gold-colored decorations and wide, light-colored sleeves. Her head is adorned with an intricately decorated traditional headdress embellished with colorful ornaments and pearl-like details. A light veil falls over her shoulders at the sides.

With her head slightly tilted and her face resting on her hand, the young boyar's daughter gazes at the viewer. Her calm, thoughtful pose and gentle features give the portrait a distinctive expressiveness.

In the background, a dark wall and a greenish architectural feature can be seen. This understated setting draws the eye to the young woman's elaborately depicted clothing and face.

The scene evokes the atmosphere of historic Russia and recalls the rich traditions of Russian portrait and folk painting.

Traditional Russian Lacquer Painting from Fedoskino

The Fedoskino lacquer box is part of the tradition of famous Russian miniature painting. Fedoskino, a place northeast of Moscow, is one of the oldest and most important centers of Russian lacquer art. The local artisan tradition dates back to the late 18th century.

Russian lacquer painting from Fedoskino is characterized by finely detailed miniature paintings, carefully blended colors, and glossy lacquered surfaces. Popular subjects include scenes from Russian folk life, historical figures, fairy tales, landscapes, and depictions of traditional Russian clothing.

This handcrafted Russian box is made of papier-mâché, a classic material for traditional Russian lacquer boxes. The lacquered surface protects the base and gives the piece its distinctive shine.

Signed miniature painting by Micheev

At the bottom of the image, the miniature painting bears the Cyrillic place of origin „Федоскино“ (Fedoskino) and the artist’s signature „Михеев“ (Micheev).

The detailed rendering of the headdress, jewelry, and fabric folds reflects the artistic care behind this traditional miniature painting. Particularly striking is the contrast between the light sleeves, the vivid red of the garment, and the gold-colored embellishments.

The dark background brings the face and historical clothing into striking relief. This gives the signed Fedoskino lacquer box the appearance of a small, standalone portrait painting.

Black lacquer box with gold-colored ornaments

The “By the Fireplace” Russian lacquer box has a rectangular shape with softly rounded corners. Its glossy black exterior provides an elegant frame for the colorful miniature painting.

The lid is framed by a delicate, continuous gold-colored ornamental design. Its flowing patterns highlight the traditional character of Russian lacquer art and add a decorative accent.

The underside features a round emblem with the bilingual inscription “РУССКАЯ КОЛЛЕКЦИЯ” / “RUSSIAN COLLECTION”.

Bright red interior and practical storage

The Fedoskino papier-mâché casket has a hinged lid. The interior is fully coated with a glossy, vibrant red lacquer.

The striking color contrast between the black exterior lacquer and the red interior is one of the characteristic design features of many traditional Russian lacquer caskets.

With its compact dimensions of 10.5 × 8.0 × 3.5 cm, the lacquer box is suitable for storing small pieces of jewelry, coins, keepsakes, or other personal items.

The hand-painted casket also makes a striking display on its own in a cabinet, on a dresser, or on a shelf.

Russian lacquer art as a special collector's item

This Russian lacquer box “By the Fireplace” from Fedoskino combines traditional craftsmanship, artistic miniature painting, and a historically inspired subject from old Russia.

The expressive portrait of the young boyar's daughter, the detailed clothing, the gold-colored border ornaments, and the distinctive red lacquered interior make this hand-painted Russian lacquer casket an appealing work of art and collector's item.

Whether as an addition to a collection of Russian lacquer boxes, a decorative home accessory, or an unusual gift for lovers of Russian history and culture, this Fedoskino casket with miniature painting by Micheev preserves a piece of traditional Russian craftsmanship.

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