Painted lacquered objects are among the traditional Russian handicrafts. There are several main schools and techniques of lacquered work. The box Ivanushka and the Firebird has been made in what is called the Palekh technique, in an allusion to the Russian village where, beginning in the 16th century, Russian icon painters began to decorate wooden and paper boxes with tempera painting. Over time the fame of the local masters spread far and wide, and these boxes, which bear subjects taken from Russian fairy tales and are done with skillful delicacy and elegance, began to be exported to Europe.

Papier-mache, lacquer, painting.
Diam. 4 in. (10 cm).