Vintage 1986 Palekh Lacquer box \"The Meeting\" by Anna Kamanina - USSR Beriozka For Sale

Very fine Soviet era Palekh medium size oval lacquer box with miniature fairy-tale scene, \'The Meeting\', by noted Russian miniaturist painter, Anna Ivanovna Kamanina, dated 1986, with original box and original Beriozka price tag.
Anna Ivanovna Kamanina (born 11 March 1956 in Palekh) was the daughter of the noted Palekh miniature painters Ivan Yakovlevich Kamanin and Nina M. Kamanina. Anna Kamanina studied painting at the Palekh Art College from 1971-1976, under V. Golov & V. Khodov. Then, in 1989, she became a Member of the Union of Artists of the U.S.S.R. She is best known for her icon painting and lacquer boxes portraying scenes from Russian folk lore. Her works are in the collections of the State Museum of Palekh Art, the All-Russia Museum of Decorative & Applied Art, and the Ivanovo Regional Art Museum.
This oval lidded box is fashioned from papier mache and applied with several layers of black lacquer to the exterior and red lacquer to the interior. The decoration is applied with very fine brushes in egg tempera paints and liquified gold leaf. The scene is from a popular Russian folk tale of two young lovers who are meeting by a well. The young woman is carrying two buckets of water suspended upon a yoke and her young man is attired in an elaborate red and gold coat with cap.
Along the lower edge of the painting the artist has signed the piece, and dated it (Village of Palekh, 1986), together with the Number 8275. The underside of the box is painted in gold leaf \'Made in USSR\'. Most unusual is that the original red and white cardboard presentation box is included, as well as the original Palekh price tag with a Beriozka label attached. Beriozka was a Soviet state authorized retail store that allowed for Russian made items to be exchanged for foreign currency. The price tag lists the name of the artist, the item number, the title of the piece, and the price paid (152 rubles), which confirms that this box is a genuine item from Palekh, where it was purchased new in 1986. The prior owner from whom we acquired this box represented to us that she had acquired it new when visiting the USSR in 1986.
Material: egg tempera and gold leaf on lacquered papier mache.Artist: signed by Anna Kamanina, of Palekh, U.S.S.RAge: dated 1986Size: 5 1/2 in. length x 3 1/4 in. width x 1 1/2 in. ht. Boxed size: 4 in. x 6 1/2 in. x 2 1/4 in. Total weight: 10 ounces.Condition: near mint pre-owned vintage condition, retaining the mirror like surface to the lacquer, without any crazing, wear, scratches, or damage. Investment grade. Including original box and official sales\' certificate. Examine photos for condition details. Item may be returned for a refund of the purchase price within 14, only if not as described in this listing, and the original cost of packing and shipping will not be refunded. Also, the purchaser must pay the cost of return packaging, shipping with tracking, and insurance in the full amount of the purchase price of the returned item.Shipping within the United States only. No international shipping.