Show all images on one page	#007941 Title: Magic of Oz Artist: Knyazev Sergey Size: 24x18x5 Size (inches): 9.5x7x2 Price : $9250 SOLD!

This incredible composition painted by a famous master Sergey Knyazev pays homage to Dorothy's adventures and those with whom she shared them! In the center of the scene we can see all major characters of this novel.
"The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" began as a whimsical idea for a book. In 1880 New York native Lyman Frank Baum began what turned into a whole series of books in which he created the land of Oz, and eventually incorporated these larger than life, lighthearted, and fantastic characters into his most famous book "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" (1900). Almost a year after the novel was published, Baum adapted it as a musical extravaganza entitled "The Wizard of Oz", and right up to his death he wrote thirteen more books based on the Oz characters. The American musical film based on the original books by Baum was an international success and eventually various international versions were premiering across the globe. "The Wizard of the City of Emeralds", directed by V. Popov and L. Smironov, was the Russian version, which became incredibly popular all throughout Russia in 1973.
The plot of novel is following:
Dorothy Gale is a young orphaned girl raised by her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry in the bleak landscape of a Kansas farm. She has a little black dog Toto, who is her sole source of happiness on the dry, gray prairies. One day, Dorothy and Toto are caught up in a cyclone. It deposits their farmhouse into a field in Munchkin Country, the eastern quadrant of the Land of Oz. The falling house kills the Wicked Witch of the East, the evil ruler of the Munchkins.
The Good Witch of the North comes with the grateful Munchkins to greet Dorothy and gives Dorothy the Silver Shoes (believed to have magical properties) that the Wicked Witch of the East had been wearing when she was killed. In order to return to Kansas, the Good Witch of the North tells Dorothy that she will have to go to the Emerald City and ask the Wizard of Oz to help her. Before she leaves, the Good Witch of the North kisses her on the forehead, giving her magical protection from trouble.
On her way down the yellow brick road, Dorothy frees the Scarecrow from the pole on which he is hanging, applies oil from a can to the rusted connections of the Tin Woodman, then meets the Cowardly Lion, and encourages the three of them to journey with her and Toto to the Emerald City. The Scarecrow wants to get a brain, the Tin Woodman wants a heart, and the Cowardly Lion wants courage. All four of the travelers believe that the Wizard can solve their troubles. The party overcomes many obstacles on their journey, including gaps in the yellow brick road, vicious Kalidahs (beasts with bodies like bears and heads like tigers), a river, and a field of deadly poppies.
When the travelers arrive at the Emerald City, they are asked by the Guardian of the Gates to wear green spectacles as long as they remain in the city. The four are the first to ever meet the Wizard. He appears to each of them as something different: Dorothy sees the Wizard as a giant head, the Scarecrow sees the Wizard as a beautiful woman, the Tin Woodman sees the Wizard as a terrible beast, and the Cowardly Lion sees the Wizard as a ball of fire. The Wizard agrees to help them all if they defeat the Wicked Witch of the West, who rules over the western Winkie Country. The Guardian of the Gates warns them that no one has ever managed to harm the very cunning and cruel Wicked Witch.
As the friends travel across the Winkie Country, the Wicked Witch can see them coming. First, she sends her 40 great wolves to tear them to pieces, but the Tin Woodman manages to kill them all with his axe. Second, she sends her 40 wild crows to peck their eyes out, but the Scarecrow manages to kill them all by breaking their necks. Third, she summons a swarm of black bees to sting them, but the Tin Woodman sits atop the Scarecrow's extra straw that hides the other three. Fourth, she has her Winkie soldiers attack them, but the Cowardly Lion stands firm to repeal them. Finally, she uses the power of the Golden Cap to send the winged monkeys to capture Dorothy, Toto and the Cowardly Lion, un-stuff the Scarecrow, and dent the Tin Woodman. This plan is successful and the survivors are carried to the Wicked Witch. She forces Dorothy to do housework for the castle while scheming to steal her silver shoes.
The Wicked Witch tricks Dorothy out of one of her silver shoes and in anger, Dorothy throws a bucket of water at the Wicked Witch. Dorothy is shocked to see the Witch melt away. The Winkies rejoice at being freed of the witch's tyranny and they help re-stuff the Scarecrow and mend the Tin Woodman. The Winkies ask the Tin Woodman to become their ruler, which he agrees to do after helping Dorothy return to Kansas. Dorothy finds the Golden Cap and summons the Winged Monkeys to carry her and her companions back to the Emerald City. The King of the Winged Monkeys tells how he and the other monkeys are bound by an enchantment to the cap by the sorceress Gayelette, and that Dorothy may use the cap to summon the Winged Monkeys two more times.
When Dorothy and her friends meet the Wizard of Oz again, he tries to put them off, but Toto accidentally tips over a screen in a corner of the throne room where hides the Wizard. He sadly explains he is a humbug (an ordinary old man who, by a hot air balloon, came to Oz long ago from Omaha}. The Wizard provides the Scarecrow with a head full of bran, pins, and needles ("a lot of bran-new brains"), the Tin Woodman with a silk heart stuffed with sawdust, and the Cowardly Lion a potion of "courage". Their faith in the Wizard's power gives these otherwise useless items a focus for their desires. In order to help Dorothy and Toto get home, the Wizard decides to leave the Emerald City and take them home with him, as he has grown tired of being cooped up and wants to return to circus work. He and Dorothy make a new hot air balloon from green silk. At the send off, he reveals himself to the people of the Emerald City and he appoints the Scarecrow, by virtue of his brains, to rule in his stead, which he agrees to do after Dorothy returns to Kansas. Toto chases a kitten in the crowd and Dorothy goes after him, but the tethers of the balloon break and the Wizard floats away. Dorothy summons the Winged Monkeys to carry her and Toto home, but they explain they cannot cross the desert surrounding Oz. The Soldier with the Green Whiskers advises that Glinda the Good Witch of the South may be able to help Dorothy and Toto get home. Dorothy, Toto, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion journey to Glinda's palace in the Quadling Country. Together they escape the Fighting Trees, tread carefully through the China Country where they meet Mr. Joker, and dodge the armless Hammer-Heads on their hill. The Cowardly Lion kills a giant spider who is terrorizing the animals in a forest. The animals ask the Cowardly Lion to become their king, which he agrees to do after helping Dorothy return to Kansas. Dorothy summons the Winged Monkeys a third time to fly them over the Hammer-Heads' mountain.
At Glinda's palace, the travelers are greeted warmly, and it is revealed by Glinda that Dorothy had the power to go home all along: the Silver Shoes she wears can take her anywhere she wishes to go. She tearfully embraces her friends, all of whom will be returned, through Glinda's use of the Golden Cap, to their respective kingdoms: the Scarecrow to the Emerald City, the Tin Woodman to the Winkie Country, and the Cowardly Lion to the forest. The Golden Cap is given to the King of the Winged Monkeys, so they will never be under its spell again. Having bidden her friends farewell one final time, Dorothy knocks her heels together three times and wishes to return home. When she opens her eyes, Dorothy and Toto have returned to Kansas to a joyful family reunion.
Sergey Knyazev is a talented artist, capable of producing both whimsical and serious compositions. Dark colors, and attention to detail help to make his work both collectible and adorable! With the aid of several pieces of mother-of-pearl composition get luminous glowing and incredible details!
The composition is bordered with beautiful floral patterns, aluminum and green egg-tempera paints. The sides of the box are decorated with much elaborate beautiful gold patterns. The lid is hinged to the top of the composition and the box rests on four legs. The box is signed with the title , the name of the artist and the village of Fedoskino in gold paint on the lid's interior of the box.
Fine piece!