Vintage Russian Lacquer Box Hand Painted Firebird Fairy Tale Folk Art Papier Mache

Vintage Russian Hand-Painted Lacquer Box – Firebird Fairy Tale Scene

A wonderfully atmospheric vintage Russian lacquer box featuring a colourful hand-painted miniature inspired by traditional Russian folklore.

The lid depicts a young man confronting a magnificent fantastical bird, reminiscent of the legendary Russian Firebird, set against an extraordinary glowing red and orange background. The dramatic colouring gives the miniature an almost illuminated appearance, while the surrounding black lacquer is embellished with delicate gold floral and scrolling decoration.

The miniature displays visible individual brushwork throughout the figure, landscape, foliage and bird, giving the piece considerably more character than later printed or transfer-decorated souvenir boxes.

The exterior is finished in glossy black lacquer with a vivid traditional red interior. The box has a substantial rectangular form raised on four small integral feet and is fitted with a hinged lid.

No clearly legible artist’s signature or workshop mark has been identified, so I have deliberately not attributed the box to a particular Russian lacquer miniature school such as Palekh, Kholuy, Mstera or Fedoskino.

Dimensions:
Approx. 10.5 cm long × 6.5 cm wide × 4.5 cm high
Approx. 4.1 × 2.6 × 1.8 inches

Condition:
Vintage condition with noticeable age-related wear. There are scattered surface marks and scratches together with areas of wear and small losses to the painted/lacquered decoration, particularly around the lower portion of the miniature. There is also general wear consistent with age and previous use.

Despite this, the principal miniature remains remarkably colourful and displays beautifully, with the intense red/orange background and Firebird creating a particularly striking effect. The red interior presents well and the hinge appears intact.

Please study all photographs carefully as they form an important part of the description and clearly show the condition.

A characterful piece of Russian decorative folk art and an attractive addition to a collection of vintage lacquer miniatures, Russian fairy-tale art or unusual decorative boxes.