Show all images on one page	#004047 Title: The Mermaid Week Artist: Presnyakova Olga Size: 8x8x6.5 Size (inches): 3.25x3.25x2.5 Price : $750 SOLD!

This highly animated piece of authentic Russian artistry was composed by Mstera painter Olga Presnyakova. The work is called "The Mermaid Week", and drawn on the theme of Russian folk feasts. The mermaid week is a next week after the Holy Trinity Day. During this week people were afraid to go to the forest as it was believed that mermaids could be met there. Ceremonies and beliefs connected with the mermaid week are similar to a great extent to the celebration of Christmastide (or "Svyatki"). For instance, during this week young men used to put their fancy dresses on, and frightened young women.
The palette is filled with earthtones. The details are enhanced with brilliant gold paint. The panorama painted on the sides of the box is done well enough that it seamlessly wraps around the exterior without a break in the action.
The box's exterior is decorated with luxuriant gold ornamentation accented with red, green and blue tempera paints.
The box is constructed out of paper-mache. Black lacquer covers the exterior and red lacquer covers the interior of the box. The lid isn't hinged, and the box rests on a flat bottom. The work is signed with Mstera, the title, and the artist's name on the box's exterior bottom.