Show all images on one page	#009362 Title: Emelya and the Magic Fish or by the Pike's Will Artist: Monashova Irina Size: 32.5x23x10 Size (inches): 12.75x9x4 Price : $895 SOLD!

This large box was painted by the talented Monashova Irina from the village of Fedoskino. It shows the episode from the popular Russian fairy-tale "By the Pike's Will" or "Emelya and the Magic Pike".
In short, this tale is about a young man who has catch a special fish when he goes to get water from the river. In return for releasing her, the Magic Pike offers to fulfill Emelia's wishes. Being a lazy fellow, Emelya light-heartedly uses magic forces, asking the pike to help him to perform his chores while he relaxes. He orders his water-pails to go home by itself, which they do, much to the surprise of his sisters-in-law. Then he orders the sledge to go by itself to the nearest forest where his ax falls wood for the fire. Afterwards he gets to the tsar's palace, riding a stove. In the palace he meets the tsar's daughter and falls in love with her. The tale ends happily and Emelya marries the tsar's daughter.
The scene depicted on the box's lid shows one of the episodes from this tale: Emelya sits on the stove that goes by itself straight to the Tsar's palace where he will meet the Tsar's daughter, his future wife. The villagers are surprised and scared,this is a real fairy tale miracle.
The dominated colors are very soft and the tonality is subdued to convey the frozen sense of winter. Every detail is delicately manipulated for a great overall effect. The ground produces most of the action with its swirling currents of snow.
The box is made of paper-mache. The painting is framed with a band of gold paint. The box's sides are decorated with two parallel gold lines.The edges of the lid are bordered with a gold line.
The interior is completed with red lacquer, while the exterior is black.
The lid is hinged to the left of the composition and the box rests on four legs. The work is signed with the artists name.