Show all images on one page	#001656 Title: Nutcracker Artist: Strunina(Fomichova) Olga Size: 16.5x11x3 Size (inches): 6.25x4.25x1.25 Price : $525 SOLD!

It is a glorious depiction of a story told throughout many a generation, "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King," written by E.T.A Hoffman. Many children and their parents have gathered in the large hall to celebrate Christmas. They stand near the big Christmas tree, while the one-eyed gentleman gives presents to children. At the same time under the floor the Mouse King speaks with his servants.
This attractive piece of pure artistic enchantment was composed by talented Palekh artist Olga Strunina. She is the daughter of renowned Mstera artist Lev Fomichev; one can see the influence of his technique and soft color palette in Olga's work. Following in her father's footsteps, Strunina has used home-made pigments obtained from stones gathered from streams around Mstera. This method was used by old Russian masters, and has been passed down from father to daughter.
Although she has learned much from her father, Strunina has developed a style all her own. Here she displays an infinite ability to create imaginative animation through composition. With this piece in particular, she delivers us into an entire world of fantasy through precise execution and masterful decoration.
Strunina uses a wide range of tones to paint this scene. The application of gold contouring grants this piece it's holiday flare.
The box was constructed out of paper-mache. It was painted with dark blue paint on the exterior and red lacquer on the interior. An elegant floral pattern in gold and egg tempera paint ornaments the lid's edges and the sides of this oval box. The lid is hinged at the left of the composition, and the box lays flat. Strunina wrote the village name "Mstera", the year 2005, the title "Nutcracker," and signed her name at the bottom of the composition.