Show all images on one page	#009674 Sale! Title: Emelya and the Magic Fish(Or By the Pike's will...) Artist: Dubrovina Irina Size: 5x8.5x12 Size (inches): 2x3.5x4.75 Price: $499 $425

This unusual-shaped box shows several episodes from the popular Russian fairy-tale "By the Pike's Will" or "Emelya and the Magic Pike".
The box has the painting on the whole surface of the box, except the exterior of the buttom.
In short, this tale is about a young man who finds a special fish when he goes to get water from the river. In return for releasing her, the Magic Pike offers to fulfill Emelia's wishes. Being a lazy fellow, Emelya light-heartedly uses magic forces, asking the pike to help him to perform his chores while he relaxes. He orders his water-pails to go home by itself, which they do, much to the surprise of his sisters-in-law. Then he orders the sledge to go by itself to the nearest forest where his ax falls wood for the fire. Afterwards he gets to the tsar's palace, riding a stove. In the palace he meets the tsar's daughter and falls in love with her. The tale ends happily and finally Emelya marries the tsar's daughter.
On the lid of the box showing the very beginning of the tale when Emelya catches Magic Pike. On the front side of the box, Emelya is riding the stove and meeting the tsar's daughter. And on the back side of the box we can see Emelya rides on a sleigh without a horse to get the firewood in the forest... When his sister saw this, she was so surprised by the miracle that she just stands with her arms outstretched!
The box was painted by a talented Palekh artist, Dubrovina Irina. Egg-tempera paint is the main medium used to paint this composition. The palette is based in blues, greens and reds that make complementary combinations throughout the scene. Gold and silver are used to highlight and detail of the composition, but its sparkle naturally enhances the great depth and epic mood set by the theme!
The box is made out of paper-mache. The interior of the box is red, while the exterior is covered with back lacquer. The lid is attached to the base with a hinge, and the box rests on a flat bottom. Golden ornaments frames the compositions, one-on the edge of a lid , and another wraps around the sides of the box close to the buttom.
The work is signed with the artist's name, Palekh and the year of 2007 at the bottom of the lid.