Russian lacquer box

Item

Title
Russian lacquer box
Description
1980? Russian lacquer box from the village of Palekh illustrating five different stories by Ivan Krylov. Paper mache, gold ink, handmade and handpainted, signed by the artist. 4½" x 4½" x 3½". Excellent condition. $76 from Yury Korchinsky, Reseda, CA, through Ebay, August, '99.

This black box is octagonal, with each of the square's edges turned into a very short side. The colors are lovely. Each of the images has a gold-ink background, and each of the short sides a gold-ink branch pattern. The inside is painted a simple bright red. The five fables--each labelled in Russian with a title--are, if one faces the box, "Trishkin's Kaftan" (top), "Demianov's Fish Soup" (front), "The Cat and the Cook" (right), "The Peasant and the Bear" (back), and "The Wolf in the Kennel" (left). I presume that this is a one-of-a-kind item. It is simply exquisite!
Source
$76 from Yury Korchinsky, Reseda, CA, through Ebay, August, '99.
Date
1980?
Subject
Trishkin's Kaftan
Demianov's Fish Soup
The Cat and the Cook
The Peasant and the Bear
The Wolf in the Kennel
Boxes
Lacquer Boxes