A Kholuy papier-mâché lacquer box of oval form, finished in a traditional black exterior with a vibrant red interior. The lid features a hand-painted miniature illustration of Prince Gvidon from Alexander Pushkin’s The Tale of Tsar Saltan. The scene depicts the archer on a coastline aiming his bow at a bird of prey to save a white swan in the turbulent sea. The painting is framed by an ornate gilt scrollwork border. The lower edge of the painting bears Cyrillic inscriptions; the left side reads Сказка о царе Салтане (Skazka o tsare Saltane) and the right side is signed Холуй (Kholuy) followed by Добрынина Л.? (Dobrynina L.?). The box measures 5” x 3.5”.
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