"Iliya Muromets and Solovey" by  Dmitriy Rogatov

  This is a lacquer box painted by the Fedoskino artist Dimitry Rogatov. This is a work painted by him in 2006 now has decided to sell it. Dimitry is the younger brother of the artist Sergey Rogatov who boxes sell for several thousands of dollars. Dimitry is a graduate of Fedoskino School of Russian Lacquer Miniatures the second oldest school of the four lacquer box art schools. This work here is titled "Lukomorye"a fictional land in Russian Folklore and History. The toponym "Sea Bend" (???? ????, luka morya) and the derivations: lukomorye, lukomorians, etc., has been applied to various geographical locations.[1] It is mentioned in The Tale of Igor's Campaign and the Russian chronicles. According to the chronicles Lukomorye was inhabited by the nomadic Polovtsy people, and the researchers locate it the region north of the Sea of Azov, where Polovtsy lived in the 11th—12th centuries[2]. These accounts are seen as a source of inspiration for Alexander Pushkin[2]. In modern Russian culture the word Lukomorye is most commonly associated with Pushkin's fairy tale poem Ruslan and Lyudmila [3], starting with the line: "There is a green oak-tree by the lukomorye, …" (? ????????? ??? ???????, … ; U lukomorya dub zelyony, …). The land of "Lucomoria" was also depicted in a number of antique maps of Siberia/Muscovy.[4] It is suggested that the cartographers followed the descriptions of Sigismund von Herberstein in his 1549 Notes on Muscovite Affairs[5]:...which they barter with the Grustintzi and Serponovtzi : these latter people derive their name from the fortress of Serponov Lucomoryae, situated in the mountains beyond the river Oby. It is said that a certain marvelous and incredible occurrence, and very like a fable, happens every year to the people of Lucomoryae, namely, that they die on the 27th of November, which among the Russians is dedicated to St. George, and come to life again like the frosts in the following spring, generally on the 24th of April. ... The Cossin is a river which flows down from the mountains of Lucomorya ; at its mouth is the fortress of Cossin, which was formerly possessed by the Knes Ventza, but now by his sons. From the sources of the great river Cossin to this point is a journey of two months. Moreover, from the sources of the same river, rises another river Cassima, which, after passing through the district of Lucomorya, flows into the great river Tachnin ; beyond which are said to dwell men of prodigious stature, some of whom are covered all over with hair, like wild beasts, while others have heads like dogs, and others have no necks, their breast occupying the place of a head, while they have long hands, but no feet. The lacquer box is completely hand painted and signed by the artist Rogatov. The size of the box is 4.5 x 4 inches ( 11.5 cm x 10cm). White patches in photos are from the light reflection from the camera.

Iliya Muromets and Solovey the Robber Fedoskino 2006 Rogatov Dmitriy