Show all images on one page	#008145 Title: Tale of a Golden Cockerel Artist: Molodkin Vladimir Size: 24.5x18.5x20 Size (inches): 9.75x7.25x8 Price : $5250 SOLD!

This large, impressive box was painted by the outstanding Mstera artist, Vladimir Molodkin. The work is based on Alexander Pushkin's Tale of Golden Cockerel, and shows nine scrupulously painted compositions. It has four extensive paintings around the body, one rectangular composition on the lid's top, and a panorama that runs around the curved sides of the lid.
The lid's top shows the complex composition that includes several separate scenes from the tale. In the middle of the composition we can see Tsar Dadon sitting on the throne and the Astrologer pointing at the Golden Cockerel alarming a threat. From the left of the central scene Dadon's troops at the head of one of Dadon's sons set out to defeat the enemy. At the background the tsar's fleet is ready to defend the kingdom's frontiers from the water.
From the right of the central scene the troops of another Dadon's son are gathered on the palace square. In the far background we can see the nearest town to the kingdom that flames with fire being captured by the enemy.
In the middle of each of the lid's curved sides Molodkin has painted the Golden Cockerel that shines brightly with golden light. From the left and right sides of the Cockerel we can see the tsar's soldiers sleeping soundly because there is no need to be on the alert; any threat is warned by the magic cockerel.
The composition painted on the left side of the box body shows Tsar Dadon lying in the bed and surrounded with his servants. One of the servants reads the tsar a fairy tale: they went faraway or not... while another one offers him pancakes and tea. Tsar Dadon is leaning his elbows on the book entitled Fairy-Tales. The Tsar isn't afraid to leisure because he has the magic Golden Cockerel.
The right side of the box's body shows the main idea of the fairy-tale: the Astrologer manipulates the Shemakha Queen like a marionette, the Shemakha Queen, in her turn, manipulates Tsar Dadon's sons ready to kill each other. The box's rear side shows the beautiful Shemakha Queen sitting inside her eastern tent and Tsar Dadon impressed by her beauty. On the box's front side the artist has painted a final moment of the tale when Tsar Dadon is punished for his selfishness. The tsar refuses to fulfill his promise given to the astrologer, and at this moment the magic cockerel pecks his head and the tsar dies.
The work is painted in green and blue tones of tempera paints. Shining gold metal paint is used to fill each composition with minute details, and also to create the golden background for some characters and episodes.
The box is made of paper-mache. Black lacquer is used to paint the exterior of the piece while red lacquer completes the interior of the work. Each composition is decorated with intricate gold patterns , completed on the lid with blue, green and violet flowers. The lid isn't hinged and the box rests on four legs. The work is signed with the title and Mstera.