Show all images on one page	#002150 Title: Tale of Golden Cockerel Artist: Galda Nikolay Size: 18.5x18.5x4 Size (inches): 7.25x7.25x1.5 Price : $1650 SOLD!

Nikolay Galda of Kholuy painted this composition. His work is very unique to Kholuy, with a style that blends his childhood influences in Russia's far east with the icon painting style taught in Kholuy. His palettes are always dark and the scenes are foreboding. He shows the tales and stories he depicts as if everything had the capacity for magic. With each passing year his technique gets more refined and the precision of his lines improves. It's no wonder that his works are kept in the Kholuy's museum of lacquer art.
It is a story of Tsar Dadon who received from a magic astrologer a magic golden cockerel and in return for it promised to fulfill any of the astrologer's wishes. The cockerel crowed to warn the tsar of approaching danger, thus enabling him to assemble troops and rebuff the enemy attack. When the cockerel crowed again to alarm, the tsar sent his sons at the head of the troops in the direction from which danger threatened. When his sons didn't return, he set out with an army himself. Instead of an armed enemy he was met by the beautiful Shemakha Queen. She was the enemy of whom the cockerel had warned the tsar. The silly and lustful tsar didn't want to believe the cockerel and proposed marriage the Shemakha Queen in spite of the fact that it was obvious that she had killed his sons. In the end of the story the tsar is punished and killed because of his carelessness.
In the right upper corner Tsar Dadon receives the magic golden cockerel from the astrologer. In the left bottom corner Tsar Dadon sends his sons to protect their kingdom from the enemy. In the left upper corner the Shamakha Queen sits inside her eastern tent. Below the tent we can see the battle of Dadon's sons, each of them wants to possess the beautiful Shamakha Queen. In the center of the composition Tsar Dadon rides at the head of his troops to defend his kingdom by himself, as his sons haven't returned. In middle of the composition, to the left of the central scene Tsar Dadon proposes marriage to the beautiful Shamakha Queen. Just in front this scene the astrologer looks at the stars using his telescope. In the right bottom corner there is a final scene. Tsar Saltan returns to his kingdom with the Shemakha Queen intending to marry her. He is stopped by the astrologer who asks to fulfill his promised wish. His wishes to marry the Shemakha Queen instead of Tsar Saltan. Swelling with rage Dadon strikes the astrologer with his staff, while simultaneously the cockerel pecks Dadon to death.
Gold paint is used to outline and highlight areas of emphasis in the scene. This is done with subtlety and an eye for artistic integrity. Galda works his magic with a thinness by design. The palette is rich and in full flowing bloom. It will light up any collection, in each and every room. Detailing enhances architecture, facial expression and landscape. The imaginative layout, we just can't escape.
Gold beads and gold scrollwork accented with aluminum frame the composition on the lid, and the same ornamentation runs around the sides of the box.
The box is made out of paper-mache. Black lacquer covers the exterior and red lacquer covers the interior of the box. A hinge has been fastened to the top of the composition, and the box rests on a flat bottom. The work is signed with the artist's name, the village of Mstera and the title at the bottom of the composition. The same inscription can be on the lid's interior, with an additional confirmation that it is the original author's work and the year of 2006.