Vintage Russian Fedoskino Style Lacquer Box Bread & Salt Hand Painted Signed

Vintage Russian Hand-Painted Lacquer Miniature Box – “Хлеб-Соль” (Bread and Salt) – Artist Inscribed – Fedoskino Style

A particularly interesting vintage Russian lacquer miniature box, finely hand painted with a traditional Russian “Bread and Salt” (Хлеб-Соль) scene.

The miniature depicts a young woman in elaborate traditional Russian dress and kokoshnik headdress, presenting bread in the centuries-old Russian tradition of welcoming honoured guests with bread and salt.

The lower edge of the miniature bears the hand-painted Cyrillic title “ХЛЕБ-СОЛЬ”, meaning “Bread and Salt”. There also appear to be additional small hand-painted characters/initials associated with the inscription, which may represent an artist’s signature or workshop notation. These have not been conclusively identified and no specific artist attribution is being made.

The painting itself is clearly executed by hand, with individually painted details visible throughout the figure, costume, bread, fine outlines and decorative ornament. Metallic gold and silvery effects have also been used extensively in the composition and borders.

The box has a traditional glossy black lacquer exterior and contrasting red lacquer interior, with an attractive faceted geometric form.

The style, construction, inscription and subject show similarities to Fedoskino Russian lacquer miniature work, and “Bread and Salt” is a known subject within the Fedoskino tradition. However, as the artist/workshop inscription cannot be conclusively deciphered, this piece is being described as Fedoskino style rather than definitively attributed to the Fedoskino factory.

This allows the miniature and its surviving inscription to speak for themselves, and collectors are encouraged to study the detailed photographs and make their own assessment.

Dimensions:
Approx. 8 cm long × 5.5 cm wide × 2.5 cm high.

Condition:
Good vintage condition with age-related surface wear, marks and light scratching, particularly to the underside, consistent with previous handling and display. The miniature remains colourful and highly decorative. Please examine all photographs carefully as they form an integral part of the description.

A charming and intriguing example of Russian lacquer miniature painting with an identifiable traditional subject and surviving artist/workshop notation.

Please note: No certificate or original documentation accompanies the box, therefore the precise workshop, artist and date remain unverified.