This is an original hand-painted Russian lacquer box, executed in the traditional Palekh style. The scene depicts a fairy-tale composition featuring a cat and woodland animals, rendered in fine gold detailing against a deep black lacquer background. The imagery is characteristic of Russian folklore, with delicate line work and a narrative, storybook quality. The interior is finished in bright red lacquer, a classic feature of high-quality Russian lacquer boxes. The box is made of papier-mâché and hand-painted, not mass-produced. The base is signed in Cyrillic by the artist E. Krasnova (Е. Краснова). The signature and painting style are consistent with late 20th-century Russian lacquer miniature production. This is not a generic decorative piece, but a clearly identifiable folklore scene, making it particularly appealing to collectors of Russian lacquer art. • Origin: Russia • Tradition: Russian lacquer miniature (Palekh tradition) • Artist: E. Krasnova (signed in Cyrillic) • Period: late 20th century (circa 1970–1990) • Technique: hand-painted lacquer with gold detailing • Material: papier-mâché • Interior: red lacquer finish • Hinge: intact, opens and closes properly