Show all images on one page	#004815 Title: Tale of The Sleeping Princess and the Seven Bogatyrs Artist: Blinov Vladimir Size: 17.5x12x6 Size (inches): 7x4.75x2.25 Price : $950 SOLD!

This beautiful box of museum quality was painted by Vladimir Blinov from Kholui. Vladimir Blinov is the experience, intelligence and imagination behind this enchanting piece of Russian artistry.
The artist has chosen to depict a heroic completion to a romantic drama in this scene from the popular story of, "The Sleeping Princess." This story was originally put to pen by French writer Charles Perrault when he published his collection of fairy tales "Stories of Olden Times" in 1697. The French title of the tale was "La belle au bois dormant," which means "The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood." The story has since been adopted into various versions in the many countries of the world; in Russia it is known as Sleeping Princess written by A.S. Pushkin.
Here, the handsome Prince Yelisey arrives to awaken the Princess who has fallen asleep due to the wicked wish of a neglected fairy. The people of the kingdom have been throttled into a nap as well. The Prince will kiss the sleeping Princess, and at this moment everybody in the enchanted kingdom, including the beautiful Princess will wake up. Falling in love with each other at first sight, the Prince and the Princess will marry and live happily.
The depth, texture and structure of the composition is thoroughly intriguing. The eyes are almost tricked into believing that there is distance. Trees gather together, in front of and behind one another. The leaves in the trees to the right and left, are one of the greatest features of Blinov's fairy-tale setting. Colors alternate between forest green, wisteria, gray, purple and olive green. Blinov's palette is capable of creating a surrealistic landscape. The characters clothing is costumed perfection. Massive individuality here. Glistening gold and aluminum painted ornamentation dazzles their attire. Filigree swirls and flowered beauty overcomes their threads with a royal presence. The leaves in the trees turn into bits and pieces of treasure because of the golden contours applied.
Blinov's decorative work is an elegant chandelier of ornamentation. The lid's composition is framed with elegant gold beading decorated with golden filigree designs in the bottom left corner. The sides of the box are decorated with a bold golden filigree band. Twisting vines, flower petals and beaded arches make up the majority of this filigree band. The artist also uses large wild flowers, painted with aluminum paint, to accentuate this filigree brilliance. Tiny aluminum flowers enhance the filigree crowns in between the arches. Bright aluminum beads fill the extending centers of each filigree bouquet within the band. Another decoration on the sides is an elegant scroll work painted in gold and aluminum.
The box is constructed from paper-mache made in the village of Kholuy. Black lacquer is used to paint the exterior of the piece while red lacquer is used to finish the interior of the work. A hinge is fastened to the top of the composition for ease of opening. The box rests upon four angled feet carved as a portion of the base. It is signed with the artist's name, village and year (2004).