This large, hand-painted Russian lacquer box originates from the Palekh school and depicts a clearly identifiable scene from the Russian legend “The Tale of the City of Kitezh”. The composition shows a narrative moment from the legend: a young man supporting a woman as they approach a ruler standing in the entrance of a palace, surrounded by courtiers. The presence of a white bird, stylised architecture, and the richly detailed landscape are all characteristic elements of traditional Palekh fairy-tale painting. The scene is rendered with exceptional clarity, fine brushwork, and extensive gold detailing on a deep black lacquer background. The interior of the box is finished in a vivid red lacquer, typical for authentic Palekh works. The base is signed and titled in Cyrillic, with the fairy-tale title clearly readable as “Сказание о граде Китеже” (The Tale of the City of Kitezh). The artist’s signature is also present in Cyrillic and appears partially legible; due to the handwritten nature, the exact name cannot be stated with absolute certainty. This is not a generic decorative scene, but a specific narrative illustration from Russian folklore, making the piece especially attractive to collectors of Palekh lacquer art and Slavic fairy-tale iconography. • Origin: Russia (Palekh) • Fairy-tale title (in Cyrillic): «Сказание о граде Китеже» (The Tale of the City of Kitezh) • Period: late 20th century (circa 1970–1990) • Technique: hand-painted lacquer with gold detailing • Material: papier-mâché • Signature: signed in Cyrillic; artist name partially legible • Interior: finished in red lacquer • Condition: very good vintage condition, with minor signs of age consistent with careful use • Hinges intact, lid closes properly