Show all images on one page	#002626 Title: Alice in Wonderland Artist: Peskova Irina Size: 16.5x11.5x4 Size (inches): 6.5x4.5x1.5 Price : $395 SOLD!

Irina Peskova from the village of Palekh painted this oval box. It shows an episode from Lewis Carroll's classic tale "Alice in Wonderland". This is the very beginning of chapter VIII. Alice found herself at last in the beautiful garden, among the bright flower-beds and the cool fountains. A large rose-tree stood near the entrance of the garden: the roses growing on it were white, but there were three gardeners at it, busily painting them red. Alice was very surprised and asked why they were painting those roses. Their answer was very strange: the Queen ordered to plant a RED rose-tree, but they put a white one in by mistake; and now there was a threat for them to have their heads cut off. The gardeners' appearance was also very strange - they were shaped like playing cards! Suddenly the Queen appeared accompanied by soldiers shaped also like the playing cards. At that moment the three gardeners instantly threw themselves flat upon their faces, and the Queen shouted: "What is this?!" pointing at the rose-tree.
The palette is very bright and filled with oranges, reds, greens and blues. Gold and aluminum paints are used to add detail throughout the scene. Gold metal leaf shines through the palace painted in the background, and through the king's and the queen's crowns.
The scene is framed with the intricate gold ornamentation that consists of interlaced scrolls. The decoration of the box's sides pays a special attention - the sides are covered with paintings of roses and playing cards. These roses and cards form a single pattern painted in tempera paints and outlined with gold and aluminum paints; gold metal leaf shines through each of the playing cards, and through some roses and leaves.
The box is constructed from paper-mache. Black lacquer was used to paint the exterior of the piece while red lacquer completes the interior of the box. A hinge is fastened at the top, and the box rests on a flat bottom. Peskova signed and dated (2006) her work.