Show all images on one page	#002184 Title: Snowmaiden Artist: Tikhomirov Valentin Size: 13.5x9.5x4 Size (inches): 5.25x3.75x1.5 Price : $595 SOLD!

Valentin Tikhomirov is the talent behind this unique treasure. The decorative features that surround this piece are consistent with the work of Tikhomirov. His talent and his imagination craft these patterns which build personality from within the work. The Byzantine design becomes the ideal framing for the entire presentation. There is a romantic presence that goes along with this piece as well as the fairy-tale it depicts.
This is a scene from the Russian tale of "The Snowmaiden" or "Snegurochka" which is Russian for Snowmaiden.
Snowmaiden isn't a human being. Her father is Old Man Winter and her mother is Fairy Spring. She is depicted here peeping out from the forest and looking at the village where people live. People are so happy and merry! They sing songs, and have fun enjoying every minute of life. She wants to be their friend and live among them. She wishes to know what people feel; and what love is...
The colors taken from Tikhomirov's palette are extremely pleasing to the eye. Various shades of blue dominate here. The artist produces an ample amount of texture within the branches of the trees covered with fluffy white snow.
Around the scene Tikhomirov has painted his trademark Byzantine-inspired ornament using metallic gold and blue tempera paints. The decoration of the sides is marvelous! Thickly patterned Byzantine artistry runs in two individual bands parallel to one another. The upper pattern is twice as wide as the one under it. It has a form of intricately arranged flowers and foliage. Its coloring alternates between red, gold and blue. The lower pattern looks like a traditional gold floral filigree ornamentation.
The box is constructed from paper-mache. Black lacquer is used to paint the exterior of the piece while red lacquer completes the interior of the work. The lid is hinged from the top and the box rests on four legs. The artist wrote his name, the title and the village name of Mstera along the bottom of the composition in gold paint.