Show all images on one page	#008754 Title: Fortune Telling Artist: Zolotaya Lubov Size: 14.5x11x3 Size (inches): 5.75x4.25x1.25 Price : $650 SOLD!

This delightful work was painted by a talented Fedoskino artist, Zolotaya Lubov. Most of all she likes to depict the scenes from village life. Each of her works looks festive and bright. Characters of her works are dressed in the richly ornate folk costumes, which make them so appealing to look at.
Here the artist depicts village girls telling fortunes to a maiden. The maiden is excited a little as she wants to find out who her husband will be. Her girlfriend stands nearby saying the words of encouragement. It is the evening on the eve of Epiphany; it is the most appropriate time during a year to perform fortune-telling.
The structure of the composition is complex, and filled with amazing details. Not only the characters and their costumes are elaborately painted, much attention is also focused on the realistic reproduction of the peasant hut's interior.
It is so called "Christmastide Entertainment" time. Twelve days on the eve of Epiphany in Russia are called "svyatki"; it's the time when fortune-telling and different games take place.
In ancient times in svyatki Russian people dressed masks and fancy dresses and walked along village streets, singing Christmas songs that glorified Jesus Christ. They stopped in at different houses and the owners had to give them presents and sweets. This ancient rite in Russian called "kaliyda".
The box's sides are decorated with the imitation of a marble stone- cream green background is covered with dark and white colors viens; red lacquer completes the interior of the work.
The box is constructed out of paper-mache. The lid is hinged from the top of the scene, and the box rests on a flat bottom. The work is signed with the artist's name and the village of Fedoskino.