Russian lacquer box "Summer" – butterfly on flowers, hand-painted

This hand-painted Russian box from Kholui features a finely detailed summer motif with a butterfly sitting on colorful flowers. The warm color palette and precise miniature painting capture the lightness and vibrancy of a summer day. The dark background makes the bright blossoms and butterfly stand out in relief, making the lacquer box impressive both as a work of art and as a decorative souvenir.

The box is made of traditional papier-mâché, built up in several layers, pressed, carefully sanded, and primed. On this smooth base, the artist Nikolaev hand-paints the motif before several layers of clear lacquer create a high-gloss, durable surface. With its compact dimensions of 7.8 x 7.7 x 3.2 cm (length x width x height), the box is ideal for storing rings, small jewelry, or personal keepsakes and can be easily placed in a display case, on a shelf, or on a desk.

The lid is inscribed in Cyrillic with “Kholui,” “Summer,” and “Nikolaev,” clearly documenting the origin, motif title, and artist. The Kholui painting school, alongside Palekh, Fedoskino, and Mstjora, is one of the well-known centers of Russian lacquer miniature painting and is known for fine line work, expressive nature and fairy tale scenes, and careful craftsmanship. The clearly legible signature is an important feature for collectors to assess authenticity and quality.

Technically, the lacquer box is characterized by a precisely fitting lid, neatly lacquered edges, and an even priming. The interior surfaces are lacquered, creating a smooth, easy-care surface on which small items rest securely. The sturdy papier-mâché body, multilayer lacquer finish, and careful polishing ensure the box is both practical for everyday use and worthy of a collection – a small but high-quality piece of Russian craftsmanship.

It is aimed at collectors of Russian art, lovers of nature-inspired motifs, and anyone seeking a special, handcrafted gift in a compact form. With its summery motif, Nikolaev’s signature, and origin from Kholui, this lacquer box is a distinctive one-of-a-kind piece in any collection.