Show all images on one page	#001758 Title: The Astrologer("The Star Counter") Artist: Bykova Yekaterina Size: 12.5x11.5x4.5 Size (inches): 5x4.75x1.75 Price : $450 SOLD!

This elegantly shaped box that depicts rather an unusual composition is an original artwork of the talented Palekh artist Ekaterina Bykova. Ekaterina is a very creative artist who tries like many young modern lacquer miniature painters to widen the boundaries of Russian traditional schools of lacquer miniature art. By painting this original composition performed in the style that is rather unusual for Palekh school, Ekaterina has made another step in modernizing stable traditions in lacquer miniature art. Here she has chosen to depict a fairy astrologer who sits on the big fish, and all around them spreads infinite space dotted with big and small planets and stars. The astrologer is dressed in the beautiful costume designed in the fashion of Middle Ages; in his right hand he holds the hour-glass and the magic stone; while in his right hand he holds the big rod. In the background the artist depicts the planet of Earth, and some other stars and planets.
The astrologer is painted in bright tempera paints against the black background suitable to create the space atmosphere. To paint some of the stars the artist has used green spangles. The costume of astrologer, and even his face are detailed with gold and aluminum paints.
The composition is framed with originally painted gold patterns and multicolored tempera paints. The sides of the box are also decorated with gold patterns.
The box is constructed from paper-mache. Black lacquer is used to paint the exterior of the box while red lacquer completes the interior of the work. The box has a hinge from the top of the composition and rests on a small platform. The work is signed with the artist's name, the title ("Astrologer"), the year of 2004, the confirmation that it is the original work, and the village of Palekh.