Show all images on one page	#009658 Sale! Title: Sadko Artist: Brovkina Natalie, Filippova Anna Size: 18x11x3 Size (inches): 7x4.25x1.25 Price: $525 $465

This festive purse-shaped box has been painted by a talented Palekh family tandem of Brovkina Natalie and her Mom, Filippova Anna.
It depicts the scenes from the Russian folk fairy-tale "Sadko". The story tells about the exciting adventures of a musician Sadko. Once he was playing his gusli and singing a beautiful song on the riverbank. Suddenly, the Water Elf, enchanted with the wonderful tune, rose out of the lake and rewarded Sadko by telling him a secret. The next day there was a big feast at a merchant's house. The guests started to boast about their wealth. They asked Sadko to join them. He replied modestly that he was not a wealthy man, but he knew one secret - there was a magic golden fish in the Lake Ilmen, which would restore youth to anyone who ate it. The merchants swore that if Sadko could catch that fish they would give him all their goods. Surprising everyone, he caught the golden fish and became one of the richest men in Novgorod. He built a big palace, married a lovely girl named Lubava, and became a prosperous merchant. Once during one of his voyages, he had to throw himself into the sea to appease the Sea Tsar. He came to the Sea Tsar's court, and played his gusli (a musical instrument), while the Sea Tsar danced, causing a great disturbance in the sea. As a result of it, ships were sinking, people were dying. Having realized it, Sadko stopped playing. The tale ends happily: Sadko managed to escape from the underwater kingdom of the Sea Tsar and return to his beloved wife Lubava.
One of the side of the box showing Sadko playing his gusli to the Sea Tsar and to the two swiming Mermaids.On the other side we can see the underwater landscape with the ship and many different kind of fishes and underwater inhabitants.
A broad spectrum of red, blue, green and yellow colors is used to create this highly detailed work. The background of the painting is of the black color, which is a major feature of Palekh style.
Gold paint and aluminum paints are used to enhance the life and brightness of the scene. The costumes of the characters and bodies of fishes are also painted with gold and aluminum.
The edges of the sides are decorated with beautiful gold scrolling patterns.
The box is made out of paper-mache made. Black lacquer covers the exterior and red lacquer covers the interior of the box. The sides are attached to each other with a hinge. The box rests flat and it is signed with the artists names and Palekh.