Show all images on one page	#001108 Title: Small village Artist: Chikvasova Marina Size: 12x10.5x5.5 Size (inches): 4.75x4x2 Price : $280 SOLD!

This charming box was created by outstanding Fedoskino artist Marina Chikvasova, whose works are notable for peculiar stile and high quality of execution. The composition shows a small village, typical for Russian countryside. Cosy little wooden houses are scattered in the vast snow-covered expanses, several women have gathered near the well, filling their buckets with water, the others stroll slowly and talk. In the background of the composition there is a small cathedral that keeps and blesses the small village. This classic scene captures the character of this beautiful region, and without overdoing it on detail the artist conveys the character of the place and the general appearance of wonderful small villages that one can see in the Russian north.
Here the artist uses the decorative potential of painting over metal gold powder. Gold powder makes the trees, the sky, the cupolas of the cathedral, and small windows of the houses shine with a magic golden glow. The forest in the background is also painted with the use of metallic powder that helps to create an optical illusion of trees covered with white snow. Gold dust seems to have been sprinkled in certain parts of the composition to add an almost unnoticeable sparkle to the piece. The rest of the composition is painted in white tones with the shades of blue, yellow and pink; the exception is the golden sky, golden-brownish trees and architecture, green firs and bright, green, blue clothes of people. The color scheme helps create a relaxing and soothing scene.
The sides of the box are adorned with intricate, thoroughly painted gold and silver patterns. The box is constructed from paper-mache. Black lacquer is used to paint the exterior of the box while red lacquer completes the interior of the work. The lid is hinged from the top of the composition, and the box rests flat. The Fedoskino "troika" insignia can be found on the interior of the lid. The box is signed with the artist's name, village and year (2003).