Frog Princess Russian Lacquer Box Pair — Hand-Painted Folk Fairy Tale

A matched pair of Russian lacquer boxes, each hand-painted with a scene from the beloved Slavic fairy tale "The Frog Princess," likely dating to the Soviet or early post-Soviet era. Built in the traditional lacquer construction method, each box is finished in deep gloss black on the exterior and vivid vermillion red on the interior.

The lid of each box brings the fairy tale's pivotal transformation moment to life: a young bogatyr in a red kaftan with gold-embroidered cuffs, teal sash, and fur-trimmed hat kneels reverently on a wildflower-dotted meadow, cradling a crowned green frog as a burst of white magical light explodes outward in fine feather-like rays against the black ground — the precise instant the enchanted princess begins her transformation. The two boxes present the same enchanted scene with subtle compositional variations between them, each a individual hand-painted interpretation of the same folkloric moment. Both are unmarked.

Collectors drawn to Slavic mythology, Russian folk art, and fairy tale iconography will find this pair a compelling acquisition. They display beautifully together as a thematic grouping and remain fully functional as jewelry or trinket boxes.

CONDITION

Good. Both boxes retain strong gloss lacquer surfaces with vivid, unfaded painted scenes and well-fitting lids. One box has a minor ding to the inside rim; no other remarkable damage is present on either piece.

DIMENSIONS

1" H × 2½" Diameter each Weight: 1.1 oz

US Quarter Shown for Scale