Show all images on one page	#001610 Title: Mistress of the Copper mountain Artist: Shalaev Vladimir Size: 20x13.5x6.5 Size (inches): 7.75x5.25x2.5 Price : $685 SOLD!

This beautiful box depicts the scene of the "Malachite Casket" story from the "The Hostess of Copper Mountain" Ural Mountain series by Pavel Bazhov. This tale tells how the talented stone-carver, Danilo, was kidnapped by the Mistress of Copper Mountain. She taught Danilo how to carve stone flowers in such a way that makes them look real. She instructed him, "Listen to the music inside the stone just as you listened to it inside the wood when you carved your flute. Don't force it to become what you want. Listen to what the stone wants." Danilo could spend all his life in captivity, but his girl-friend, Katya, saved him. Her love was so strong that the Mistress of Copper Mountain decided to release Danilo.
The intriguing artistry of Vladimir Shalaev is always a treat to behold. The craftsmanship he applies is a complexity of the lovely. Gorgeous colors that fade in and out of one another. Elaborate designs, unique character placement and intricate decoration. This is Mstera art. This is Vladimir Shalaev.
The composition is dominated by greens, browns and grays of the landscape, except for the Mistress of Copper Mountain and the background landscape painted in blue tones. Brilliant gold and aluminum paints are used to detail the composition. For instance, bright golden beading adds shine to the designs within the characters' clothes and the stars in the sky, whereas aluminum paint details the flowers.
The framing for the scene is one way to recognize a piece by Shalaev. A thick band of olive green runs all the way around the composition. A condensed pattern of shimmering golden filigree, flowered configurations made up of beadwork and the title of the tale in large bold lettering accentuates every portion of the artist's work. The same beautiful filigree work can also be found on all four sides as their accompanying decoration.
The box is constructed from paper-mache made in the village of Mstera. Black lacquer is used to paint the exterior of the piece while a sharp red lacquer completes the interior of the work. A hinge has been fastened to the left of the composition and the box rests on a flat bottom. The titled, the word 'Mstera' and the artist's signature can be found just under the composition. Beautifully done by a very collectible artist.