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Up for sale is an absolutely exquisite, authentic Soviet-era Russian Palekh miniature lacquer box dated 1982. This stunning piece is entirely hand-painted with incredible precision using egg tempera and genuine gold leaf highlighting over a traditional black lacquered papier-mâché base.
The lid beautifully depicts scenes from Alexander Pushkin’s classic folklore masterpiece, "The Tale of Tsar Saltan" (Царь Салтан). Highly detailed vignettes feature the legendary 33 Bogatyrs emerging from the sea in shimmering armor, alongside the famous Magic Squirrel cracking gold nuts inside her domed pavilion.
This collector's piece is exceptionally desirable due to its triple-verifiable authenticity markers:
1.Artist Signature: Hand-signed directly on the bottom border by the registered Palekh master artist S. Lyakh (с. Лях).
2.Dating & Numbering: Inscribed with the year 1982 г. on the lower-right border and the unique inventory/serial number N 3999 on the lower-left border.
3.Original Paper Tag: Comes complete with its rare, matching original paper certificate issued by the Art Fund of the RSFSR (ХФ РСФСР), explicitly mirroring the serial number (3999), theme, and artist name.
Condition:
Very Good Vintage Condition Overall. The top miniature artwork on the lid is incredibly vibrant, crisp, and clean with absolutely no paint loss or fading. The gold leaf scrollwork frame retains its brilliant metallic luster. The back hinge area is fully intact; the hinge functions smoothly and holds tight. The interior red lacquer is spotless. The underneath base has visible light-to-moderate surface scuffs and hairline handling scratches in the black lacquer from sitting on a display shelf over the decades, which is standard for an authentic, well-loved estate piece of this age. There are no cracks, chips, or deep structural damage. Please review all high-resolution photos closely, as they serve as the primary visual guide to the condition of the back and underneath of this box.
