Vintage Russian Mstera lacquer box bearing the date 1957, decorated with a detailed scene inspired by Alexander Pushkin’s fairy-tale prologue to Ruslan and Lyudmila.
The lid is titled in Cyrillic “У Лукоморья дуб зелёный” (“A Green Oak by the Seashore”). The composition features a seated portrait of Pushkin surrounded by fairy-tale imagery, including the learned cat and golden chain, a mermaid in the oak tree, a woodland hut and warriors emerging from the sea.
A fine gold-colored ornamental border frames the scene. The box has a black lacquered exterior, a red interior and an attached hinged lid.
MARKINGS
The lower-left inscription reads “Мстера 1957 год” — Mstera, year 1957. A painted Cyrillic signature appears at the lower right and is tentatively read as N. Nekhoroshev. The artist’s full identity has not been independently verified.
MATERIAL
The construction appears consistent with traditional papier-mâché lacquerware. The underlying material and exact paint medium have not been independently tested.
APPROXIMATE DIMENSIONS
Length: 5.75 inches
Width: 4 inches
Height: 1.75 inches
CONDITION
Vintage condition with visible age and handling wear. There are small chips and losses to the lacquer/paint along the edges, corners and rims, plus scratches and scuffs on the lid, sides and underside.
A pale abrasion is visible above the central figure, and a prominent crack-like line crosses the lower-left painted area. The depth of this line is undetermined. The lacquer has uneven texture, fine crazing and variations in gloss. The red interior shows minor marks and edge wear; the hinge has tarnish.
Previous repairs, restoration or re-lacquering cannot be ruled out. Please review the detailed photographs closely.
A decorative example of Soviet-era Russian lacquer miniature with a dated inscription and a literary subject.
Includes one box with its attached lid. Ruler and other photography props are not included.
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