Show all images on one page	#002580 Title: Mistress of Copper Mountain Artist: Khasanova Marina Size: 23x16x7 Size (inches): 9x6.25x2.75 Price : $780 SOLD!

This mesmerizing artistic creation has been composed by the talented M. Khasanova from the village of Fedoskino. It shows a scene from "The Mistress of the Copper Mountain", one of the "Tales of the Malachite Casket", - the Ural Mountain series of inter-linking stories written by Pavel Bazhov. The story tells about a young craftsman, Danilo, who seeks to perfect his art and carve something special out of stone. Once an old man tells him the story of the most beautiful stone flower in the world owned by the Mistress of Copper Mountain. Danilo listens attentively, but fails to hear the old man's warning that whoever sees the flower will forget his loved ones, and never want to return home. Danilo's strong desire to be a skillful master leads him to the realm of the Mistress of Copper Mountain. Having seen the wonderful stone flower there, he manages to create a copy of it. But afterwards he must pay a high price for getting the talent of an outstanding sculptor. Soon he becomes a captive of the Copper Mountain and forgets everything about his former life, including his beloved Katyusha. The story ends happily: Katya saves Danilo and they are reunited.
Here we can see Danilo master who demonstrates his splendid creation to his friends and neighbors. He has managed to make the definite copy of the incomparably beautiful stone flower that he has seen in the realm of the Mistress of Copper Mountain. The flower is so skillfully done that it's hard to believe that it is carved out of malachite. It looks like a real flower, and emanates a magic green-golden radiance. The people are astonished, and look at the stone flower with admiration and rapture. The Mistress of Copper Mountain peeps out of the rock, as if she wants to remind the people who is a real creator and keeper of this flower.
Green has been chosen as a main tone for the work's palette as the stone of malachite, that has been chosen by Danilo for creation of his masterpiece, is naturally green. Gold metal leaf shines through the embroidery that decorates the characters' costumes, creates a magic golden radiance that emanates from the flower, details the crown of the Mistress of Copper Mountain as well as the crowns of two tiny lizards. Two additional miniatures adorn the box's front and rear sides. Both of them feature the big grey stone overgrown with grass, bushes and various plants.
The box is made of paper-mache. Black lacquer is used to paint the exterior of the piece while red lacquer completes the interior of the work. A hinge has been fastened to the top of the composition, and the box sits flat. Signed, dated (2006), and titled by the artist at the bottom of the composition in black oils.