Show all images on one page	#003615 Title: Kashtanka Artist: Maslov Vladislav Size: 9.5x12x2.5 Size (inches): 3.75x4.75x1 Price : $1350 SOLD!

This interesting work is a creation of Vladislav Maslov from the village of Fedoskino. Each of his works can create a sensation in the lacquer miniature world as it is notable for abundant detail and the ferocious beauty of the color combinations. All his works are painted on interesting and bold themes, and that is why they can be easily recognized.
The whole surface of the box's exterior is covered with brilliantly painted scenes based on the story “Kashtanka” (it is the dog's name that means ‘a dog of reddish-brown tone') written by A. Chekhov.
The dog Kashtanka belongs to a drunken carpenter who takes her out one day, but on the way home loses her in the confusion of a military parade. After spending a frightening night in the street, Kashtanka is rescued by a kind man who feeds her and takes her into his home, which turns out to be a strange menagerie. The rescuer happens to run a traveling animal show, in which the star performers are a goose named Ivan Ivanitch and a cat by the name of Fyodor Timofeyitch. Kashtanka's new master renames her "Auntie" and sets about training her to perform in his act. "Auntie" thoroughly enjoys her new surroundings. Her master is kind, there is plenty of food and love; and "Auntie" gets along well with the other animals. However, one day the carpenter and his son attend the show and see "Auntie" performing. They instantly recognize her and call out, "Kashtanka!" Kashtanka drops her "Auntie" persona and follows them home, as the pleasures of her interlude with her new master rapidly fade from memory.
The scene painted on the box's lid shows Kashtanka's new master dressed like a clown, standing in the make-up room, and holding Kashtanka in his hands. At this moment he speaks to a circus actor whose head peeping out of the door is reflected in the mirror. The scene is filled with a plenty of minute details that help to imagine vividly a make-up room of a circus actor. A large oval piece of mother-of-pearl is set into the mirror to create its brilliance. Some elements like the wall-papers, the mirror, the clown's costume, the bag with a cat inside are detailed with gold paint. Gold is also used to outline the edges of the lid.
The scene painted on the box's exterior bottom depicts a crowd of people gathered near the entrance to the circus in the frosty winter evening, and also the clown who enters the circus. Grey tones of oils dominate here. Gold and silver powders help to produce a sparkle of snow. Silver powder is also used to highlight the street lamp. Gold paint is used to detail the clown's costume, his bag and the door that he enters. This scene is framed with two parallel gold lines.
On the box's sides the artist continues to paint the objects associated with a circus. Here he has painted balls, hoops and skittles used for juggling; gloves and a top hat of a clown. The sides shine with gold powder used as an underlayer for the oils.
The box is made out of paper-mache. The box's exterior is decorated with the shining pearl beads that can be found on the lid, on the sides and on the box's exterior bottom. The box's interior is traditionally red. The lid is hinged from the left of the scene, and the box rests on four small pearl beads. The work is signed with the name of the artist, and the title on the square piece of mother-of-pearl glued to the lid's interior.