Show all images on one page	#002985 Title: Ivan Tsarevich and Baba Yaga Artist: Otryaskin Alexey Size: 13.5x17.5x6.5 Size (inches): 5.25x7x2.5 Price : $1250 SOLD!

This box is a wonderful creation of Alexey Otryaskin from the village of Fedoskino. Here he depicts Ivan Tsarevich who finds Baba-Yaga's hut on chicken legs with the help of a magic clew. Ivan Tsarevich has come here intentionally; he wants Baba-Yaga to help him to fulfill some difficult tasks. In spite of the fact that Baba-Yaga represents evil, in some fairy-tales she helps people overcome obstacles. Like in "Marya Morevna", when she lent Ivan Tsarevich a horse that was able to outrun Koschei the Deathless' steed. Or in "The Tale of Life Water and Youth Giving Appels" when she helped Ivan Tsarevich to fetch the life water and the youth giving apples from the splendid garden of the beautiful Blue-Eyed Maiden.
The scene painted on the box's lid shows the moment from the Tale of Princess Frog when Ivan Tsarevich led by the magic clew finds Baba-Yaga's hut in the forest. He wants to ask Baba-Yaga where his beloved wife, Vasilisa the Wise, is hidden. Baba-Yaga tells him that Vasilisa is kidnapped by Koshchey the Deathless whose death is contained in the chest that is hung on the old oak.
The structure of the composition is complex and filled with a plenty of various details. It is a real pleasure to contemplate the impeccable painting, and find more and more interesting particulars. The artist has scrupulously painted the rich plant life of the winter forest and its fauna, and could realistically reproduce the appearance of impenetrable Russian forest inhabited by bears, foxes, hares, owls and an innumerable number of other wild animals and birds. Baba-Yaga's hut is also splendidly painted: Baba-Yaga's servants, the wicked birds Geese and Swans, have opened the hut's door while flying out of it, and thorough the opened door the hut's interior is clearly seen. Next to the hut we can see the shield, the sword, and the helmet of a bogatyr who have been killed by Baba-Yaga.
Green, white and brown tones predominate here. Mother-of-pearl shines brightly through the jacket and the skirt of Baba-Yaga. Mother-of-pearl inlays also appear in the hut's legs, in the window, in the moon, and in the cases where Ivan Tsarevich keeps his sword and arrows. Gold and aluminum paints are used to enhance the colors' quality, as well to highlight the bulk of the details.
The box's exterior is covered with dark blue lacquer mixed with silver dust, while its interior is traditionally red. The box's sides are decorated with a nice gold leafy pattern.
The box is made out of paper-mache. It has a hinge to its left and rests on a flat bottom. The work is signed with the artist's name, and the title ("Ivan Tsarevich and Baba-Yaga").