Show all images on one page	#002784 Title: Tale of Tsar Saltan Artist: Kuznetsov Viktor Size: 24x18x4.5 Size (inches): 9.5x7x1.75 Price : $1650 SOLD!

This magnificent large box was created by Viktor Kuznetsov from the village of Mstera. It features the key moments from the Pushkin's "Tale of Tsar Saltan".
In the bottom of the composition we can see 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. Little do they know that the tsar himself is just outside of their gate, overhearing their conversation. The youngest of them 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!". To the right from this scene Tsar Saltan leaves his kingdom and says goodbye to his young wife. During his absence she gives birth to a child. Later tsaritsa is slandered by her envious sisters. They say to the tsar that tsaritsa has given birth not to a child but to a little monster. The frightened tsar orders to put his wife and the child into the barrel, and throw this barrel into the sea. This scene is painted in the right bottom corner. Over the tsaritsa standing inside the barrel we can see the envious sisters holding the sheets of paper on which the extracts from the fairy-tale describing this episode are written. In the left bottom corner there is the scene featuring Prince Gvidon saving the Pricess Swan from the hawk. In the right upper corner there are three sailing ships. On board of each ship Prince Gvidon traveled to his native kingdom turning firstly into a bee, then into a fly and afterwards into a mosquito. To the right from it Prince Gvidon turning into the mosquito bites one of the envious sisters. In the left upper corner Prince Gvidon, his wife Princess Swan, and his mother meet the ship on the board of which Tsar Saltan is sailing. His ship is painted in the center.
Yellows, blues and reds dominate the scene. Gold paint is used richly to add different details.
Gold beads and the golden foliage patterns frame the scene. The sides of the box are decorated with complex blooming golden filigree.
The box is made out of paper-mache. Black lacquer covers the exterior and red lacquer covers the interior of the box. The box has a hinge above the composition and rests on four legs. It is signed with the name of the artist, the village of Mstera, the title and the year (2004).