Fedoskino Russian Lacquer Box Prince Ivan and The Firebird Firebird, Tsarevich Ivan & Gray Wolf

Description: Gorgeous paper-mache Russian Lacquer Box from the Fedoskino school of lacquer miniatures (The oldest school of this art form in Russia).  The box has a hinged lid and closes very well. It is signed Belosvjetov, the famous Fedoskino artist.  The lid is decorated with a hand painted miniature showing Ivan with pulling a feather from the firebird's tail, while the bird is flying away. As per the Russian Fairy Tale "Firebird, Tsarevich Ivan and the Gray Wolf" -  Ivan sat under the apple tree for several hours with nothing happening. Suddenly the whole garden was illuminated by a radiant golden light. The firebird flew in, her eyes sparkled like huge crystals and her wings were golden flames. She perched herself on the tree and began to pick the apples. Tsarevich Ivan stole up to her softly and tried to catch her. Although he could not hold her, he was able to seize her tail and as the bird flew away, he was left with one luminous feather in his hand." And the story of course c