Show all images on one page	#004814 Title: The Twelve Months Artist: Zhukova M. Size: 7.5x6x4 Size (inches): 3x2.5x1.75 Price : $250 SOLD!

This charming small box was painted by Fedoskino artist Zhukova M. The composition depicts the fairy tale "Twelve Months". The girl portrayed on this box has been sent into the forest to fill her basket, in the middle of winter, with flowers called Snowdrops for her evil stepmother. However, Snowdrops do not grow during the wintertime. Fortunately she comes upon twelve men who are actually each of the twelve months. They see her and ask what she is doing in the cold winter night. The girl tells them about her difficult situation. To help her the months change the seasons so she can fill her basket to overflowing with snowdrops. In this scene, the Month of March appears before the girl and allows her to pick snowdrops. The girl looks at the flowers in amazement, she can't believe her eyes - the glade is covered with blue blossoms of snowdrops in the middle of January!
The scene is painted in bright yellow, red, green and blue tones against the black background. This helps the central figures stand out, and creates the depth of the composition. The characters are well drawn, with attractive faces and nicely detailed costumes.
The box is constructed from paper-mache made. The sides of the box are decorated with elegant gold and aluminum patterns. Black lacquer is used to paint the exterior of the box while bright red lacquer completes the interior of the work. The interior also includes the Fedoskino "troika" insignia stamped in orange paint on the roof of the lid. A hinge has been fastened to the left of the composition to be used for ease of opening. The box sits flat. It is signed with the artist's name, village, and year (2000).