Vintage Russian Lacquer Box – Hand Painted Troika Sleigh Scene, Mstera Style Folk Art

A beautifully detailed vintage Russian lacquer miniature box featuring a dramatic traditional Troika scene, with three spirited horses pulling an ornate sleigh through a stylised winter landscape.

The miniature is particularly striking, painted in a wonderfully vibrant palette of turquoise blue, orange, red, green and gold against the traditional black lacquer ground. Fine details can be seen throughout the composition, from the horses’ elaborate harnesses and flowing manes to the driver’s clothing, female passenger, distant Russian architecture and delicate landscape work.

The box measures approximately:

12.5 cm long × 6.3 cm wide × 3.5 cm high

The exterior is finished in glossy black lacquer with hand-applied gold scroll decoration around the lid and sides. The interior is finished in the traditional rich red lacquer.

The miniature appears to be entirely hand painted rather than a printed or transfer-applied image, with individual brushwork and fine painted detailing clearly visible when viewed closely.

There are inscriptions/signatures incorporated along the lower edge of the miniature. From the style, palette, landscape treatment and construction, I believe this is most consistent with the Mstera tradition of Russian lacquer miniature painting, probably dating from the later Soviet period, approximately the 1970s–1980s, although I have not been able to conclusively identify the individual artist. For this reason, the attribution is offered as informed rather than definitive.

The subject is the celebrated Troika, the traditional Russian three-horse team frequently depicted in Russian folk art and lacquer miniature painting.

Condition

Very good vintage condition. The painted miniature remains exceptionally bright, crisp and detailed. There are light surface marks and minor signs of handling to the glossy lacquer consistent with age and previous ownership, but these do not detract significantly from the presentation.

Please examine all photographs carefully as they form an important part of the condition description.

A particularly attractive example of Russian lacquer miniature art, with considerably more character and craftsmanship than later printed souvenir boxes. Its long rectangular proportions and extraordinarily colourful Troika composition make it a wonderful display piece as well as a collectable example of traditional Russian decorative art.