M. Petukhova Kholuy Russian Lacquer Box Golden Cockerel Hand Painted Signed

A beautiful and finely detailed Russian lacquer miniature box from Kholuy, hand painted with a scene from Alexander Pushkin’s celebrated fairy tale The Tale of the Golden Cockerel (Сказка о золотом петушке).

The miniature is attributed to the documented Kholuy artist M. Petukhova (М. Петухова).

The lower edge of the painting carries a finely executed gold Cyrillic inscription identifying the subject and Kholuy, together with what appears to be the artist’s signature. Research has identified M. Petukhova as a recorded artist of the Kholuy school of Russian lacquer miniature painting.

The composition is particularly accomplished for such a small piece. It depicts Tsar Dadon and figures from Pushkin’s tale beneath elaborate Russian architecture, with the Golden Cockerel dramatically picked out above them.

The artist has used exceptionally fine detailing throughout, including expressive faces, individual costume decoration, delicate highlights and an intricate geometric floor pattern. Gold ornamentation frames the entire miniature.

The box is traditionally finished in glossy black lacquer with a contrasting red interior.

The underside carries the Kholuy / Холуй workshop mark together with “Made in Russia.”

Particularly pleasingly, the box retains its original Kholuy presentation case and Russian Lacquer Miniature information booklet, giving the Kholuy address in Ivanovo Oblast, Russia.

Artist & Attribution

The miniature is attributed to M. Petukhova, a documented artist associated with the Kholuy school of Russian lacquer miniature painting.

The attribution is based upon the handwritten gold inscription and signature on the miniature, considered alongside the Kholuy workshop marking and accompanying original Kholuy documentation.

While M. Petukhova is recorded in specialist Russian lacquer artist references as a Kholuy artist, relatively little biographical information appears to have been published about the artist. For this reason the attribution is presented carefully rather than claiming a definitive full artist identification.

Subject

The Tale of the Golden Cockerel
Сказка о золотом петушке

Based upon the famous 1834 fairy tale by Alexander Pushkin.

Dimensions

9.5 cm × 7 cm × 2.5 cm

Approximately 3.74 × 2.76 × 0.98 inches

Origin

Kholuy (Kholui), Ivanovo Oblast, Russia

Date

Believed to date from the post-Soviet period, probably circa 1990s–early 2000s.

Condition

Presented in very good vintage condition overall. Please examine all photographs carefully as these form an important part of the condition description.

The box retains its original presentation case and Kholuy information booklet.

A particularly attractive example of the celebrated Kholuy Russian lacquer miniature tradition, combining a classic Pushkin subject, fine hand-painted detail, identifiable artist inscription and original workshop documentation.

An excellent piece for a collector of Russian lacquer miniatures, Kholuy, Palekh and Mstera art, Russian folk art or Pushkin-related pieces.