Show all images on one page	#006501 Title: Princess Never Smile Artist: Turbeneova Irina Size: 15x12x4 Size (inches): 6x4.75x1.5 Price : $1450 SOLD!

This beautiful piece of genuine Russian artistry was composed by Irina Turbenyova from the village of Fedoskino. It shows a scene from the Russian folk fairy-tale "Princess Never Smile". The only daughter of a rich and powerful king is always very sad; nobody has seen even a slight smile on her face. The king is worried about his daughter's health. To find a way out from this difficult situation he issues the following decree: "Anyone who can coax a smile from my daughter will be her husband!" Many young men go to the tsar's palace to try their luck; they show the princess many funny tricks but nobody of them can make her laugh. Meanwhile the poor and laborious worker looses all his money. He knows that the princess is very beautiful and kind, and decides to help her. When he enters the tsar's yard, he falls down just into the dirty puddle and at this moment his friends: a mouse, a beetle and a fish start to dance and show various tricks. The Princess bursts out laughing, and in the end of the tale the poor worker becomes her husband.
The entire scene is painted over a large pearl-shell that shimmers with delicate pink and green undertones. The costumes of the characters are detailed with gold paint. The scene is beautifully painted in Turbenyova's unique style, with a keen eye for detail and expression.
The scene is framed with a gold band cut out of gold metal leaf. Tiny violet and silver veins are scattered against the white background on the box's sides whereas the box's exterior bottom is of light violet-silver tone. The box's interior is covered with the red velvety material. The box can be closed firmly by means of a special adjustment that looks like a small gold metal pin that is placed into the socket when the box is closed. The box rests on four small rounded gold metal legs.
The box is constructed from paper-mache. The lid is hinged from the top of the scene. The work is signed with the artist's name, and the village of Fedoskino.