Vintage Russian Hand Painted Papier Mache Lacquer Box Folk Art Fairytale Gold Detail 6cm

Vintage Russian Hand-Painted Papier-Mâché Lacquer Box

A charming small Russian lacquer box featuring a colourful hand-painted folkloric or fairytale scene, beautifully contrasted against the traditional glossy black ground.

The central figure is depicted in vivid red, yellow, turquoise and earthy tones, accompanied by a bird and decorative landscape elements. Hand-applied metallic gold detailing has been used throughout the composition, including the radiating decoration above the figure and the scrolling ornamental border surrounding the miniature.

Close examination shows individual brushwork, variations in the painted colours and freely applied gold decoration, consistent with a hand-painted piece rather than a printed transfer.

The box has the characteristic black lacquered exterior and striking red lacquered interior associated with traditional Russian papier-mâché lacquerware.

The particular Russian lacquer school and artist have not been identified, and the box is therefore offered simply as a vintage Russian hand-painted lacquer miniature rather than attributed to Palekh, Kholuy, Mstera or Fedoskino.

Approximate dimensions:
6 cm × 6 cm × 3 cm

Date:
Probably late Soviet / post-Soviet period, approximately 1980s–1990s.

Condition:
Good vintage condition overall with light surface wear, marks and scratches consistent with age and previous handling. There is some wear to the underside and minor imperfections visible on close inspection. The painted decoration remains bright and attractive and the box displays beautifully.

Please study all photographs carefully as they form an important part of the description and show the condition, construction and hand-painted decoration in detail.

A lovely little piece of Russian decorative folk art and an appealing addition to a collection of lacquer miniatures, Russian boxes or traditional folk art.