The title of this hand-painted lacquer box is "Sadko" and it is based on the famous fairy tale. This box is in good condition showing some wear on three sides of the lid. Signed by Artist. Bottom reads "Made in USSR" Comes with original bill of purchase from 1985.
Measurements: 2"W x 2.25"D x 1.75"H Third party shipping required
Sadko
There once lived a poor musician named Sadko. He played his gusli (dulcimer) and sang in a beautiful voice at feasts and celebrations. One day, as he was playing by the shore of Lake Ilmen, the Water Elf rose out of the lake and rewarded Sadko by telling him a secret.
The next day there was a big feast at a merchant's house. The guests started to boast about their wealth. They asked Sadko to join them. He replied modestly that he was not a wealthy man, but he knew one secret - there was a magic golden fish in Lake Ilmen which would restore youth to anyone who ate it. Nobody believed him, and the merchants wagered that if Sadko could catch that fish they would give him all their goods.
Surprising everyone, he caught the golden fish and became one of the richest men in Novgorod. He built a big palace, married a lovely girl named Lubava and became a prosperous merchant.
One day, on a return voyage from other countries loaded with goods, his fleet was becalmed and could make no headway. Sadko realized that the Tsar of the Sea - Tsar Morskoy - wanted him to make an offering. Sadko jumped into the water and went down to the Tsar's palace, where he played for the Tsar's feast. When the guests danced to his music, a terrible storm began and many ships sank. Sadko stopped playing when he realized that there was a storm above him.
Tsar-Morskoy wanted him to stay in the sea and paraded his girls before Sadko, asking him to choose one for a wife. He chose the last girl in line, the River Volkva, who happened to be the sister of the Water Elf, and she helped him return home to his beloved wife Lubava.
#1153