Show all images on one page	#002115 Title: The Storyteller Artist: Meshkova(Bikova) Yekaterina Size: 15x13.5x3.5 Size (inches): 6x5.25x1.25 Price : $1100 SOLD!

This elegantly shaped box painted in the original style is the creation of Ekaterina Meshkova (Bikova) from the village of Palekh. It shows the storyteller who tells his fairy-tales to all inhabitants of the forest. Elves, dwarfs, various forest spirits, animals, children from a village located not far from this forest, and even an ogre have gathered on the sunny glade to listen to him.
The composition is complex in its structure. It includes eighteen human figures of different size, beginning with the huge figure of the ogre and finishing with the tiniest figure of the dwarf; multitude of various animals including a cat, a hedgehog, an owl, etc.; and the beautiful forest setting filled with rich plant life. Each figure is individualized, and it's obvious that the artist has spent much time thinking over their appearance.
The scene is mostly painted in green tones as they suit perfectly to depiction of a forest setting. Both gold and aluminum are used to add various details.
The gold and aluminum beading and gold filigree ornamentation frame the composition. The similar ornamentation supplemented by an additional gold line and a gold wavy pattern wrap around the box's sides. The exterior of the box is covered with light and dark green blurry spots scattered on the black background. This original ornamentation tones with the whole palette of the scene, and reminds the coloring of malachite. In the center of the box's exterior bottom the artist has drawn the frog surrounded with the garland composed of forest plants. This frog looks strikingly realistic! The box's interior is traditionally red.
The box is constructed from quality paper-mache. The lid is hinged from the top of the composition, and the box rests on a wavy platform. The work is signed, dated (2005) and titled ("Storyteller") by the artist in gold paints on the lid's interior.