Show all images on one page	#002763 Title: Tale of Tsar Saltan Artist: Medvedeva Antonina Size: 16.5x11.5x13.5 Size (inches): 6.5x4.5x5.25 Price : $1150 SOLD!

This colorful large box has been painted by the Mstera artist Antonina Medvedeva. Her highly original works are much in demand by collectors.
The box features five scenes from the Pushkin's tale of Tsar Saltan including four scenes around the body, and one scene on painted on the lid.
The front side the box's body features a moment from the beginning of the tale. Three sisters gossip among themselves as they spin wool. Each tells what she would do if she were to marry Tsar Saltan, the ruler of the kingdom, and available bachelor. They don't know that the tsar himself is standing behind the door, overhearing their conversation. The youngest sister will soon become his bride because of her wise answer: "If I were the tsar's wife I would give birth to a charming child!"
The left side shows Tsar Saltan parting with his wife as he leaves the kingdom to arrange matters of the state; it is a moment from the very beginning of the tale. During his absence, his wife gives birth to a child. But when the tsar returns, the envious sisters of tsaritsa slander her by saying the tsar that she has given birth not to a charming child but to an ugly monster. Hearing it, Tsar Saltan orders to seal the tsaritsa with her child into the barrel and throw it into the sea.
The right side features Princess Swan who has turned into the beautiful maiden from the swan before Prince Gvidon's eyes; and Prince Gvidon's mother sitting near the barrel, she and her son have been sealed into.
On the rear side Medvedeva has painted Prince Gvidon, his mother and wife, meeting Tsar Saltan who sails to their island to find out whether all stories he heard about Gvidon's magic island are truthful.
The scene painted on the box's lid depicts the feast arranged to celebrate reunion of the family.
To paint this box Medvedva used a wide range of tempera paints, and also bright gold and silver paints to enhance various details.
Each scene is outlined with gold, and framed with elaborate gold leafy patterns. On the lid this leafy gold ornaments are accompanied by four small oval scenes painted in tempera paints; two of them show the ship sailing on the sea, while another two ones depict the magic squirrel that all day long cracks golden nuts with emeralds inside and sings songs.
The box is made out of paper-mache. Black lacquer covers the exterior and red lacquer covers the interior of the box. The lid is hinged at the top, and the box rests on four legs. The work is signed with the name of the artist, the village of Mstera, and the title.