Show all images on one page	#001256 Title: Flying ship Artist: Zolotareva N. Size: 24x18x5.5 Price : $1450 SOLD!

This splendid box was painted by the talented Palekh artist N. Zolotaryova. It shows the final moment of the popular Russian fairy-tale "Flying Ship". The plot of this tale is truly interesting. One of three brothers embarks on a journey aboard a flying ship, during which he takes on as passengers six men with special powers. With the help of each man's different talent, he is able to perform impossible tasks set for him by the Tsar and marry the Tsar's daughter. The full version of this tale you can read on our website.
The composition painted in the traditional Palekh style is very bright and colorful. The costumes of the characters, the surrounding architecture and landscape are richly detailed with gold and aluminum paints. Looking at this scene we may imagine the way of life of Russians in the XVI-XVII centuries. All of the costumes are very long and bright; in ancient times the Russians liked to choose bright red, green, orange, blue tones for their clothes. The sleeves are also very long, they nearly touch the ground. The heads of boyars are covered with the hats called "kolpak". The heads of women are also covered with hats and kerchiefs. Headdress was an indispensable element of women's attire. In ancient times in Russia it was disgraceful for a woman to appear before people bare-headed. The skillfully painted architecture is designed in the Russian ancient style that includes the elements of Byzantium architectural style. The flying ship repeats the form of an ancient Russian boat called "ladya". This splendid box is notable not only for historical accuracy, but also for masterful painting technique.
This box is pictured in the new catalogue by L.L. Pirogova Russian lacquer miniature. Origin and contemporaneity (Yantarny Skaz, 2003) that may confirm its museum quality status.
The box is made out of paper-mache. The scene and the sides of the box are decorated with beautiful gold ornamentation. The box has a hinge from the top of the composition and rests on four legs. Black lacquer covers the exterior and red lacquer covers the interior of the box. The work is signed with the artist's name (Zolotaryoava N.), the village (Palekh), the title ("Flying Ship") and the year (2001).