The edge of the pen props him upward like the majestic columns of an ancient palace. Physically, he may deteriorate, but his position shall not waver. The old man is trapped in thought, remembrance. He recalls going outside his personality, achieving a state of helping grace while being caught in the midst of something quite original. The fellow is perplexed. He'll scratch his weary head until the cows come home. Hopefully, it won't begin to rain as they do so.
Nikolay Demyanenkov of Fedoskino is the expert craftsman responsible for this adorable creation using Russian lacquer miniature artistry. The characters are impressive symbols of what hard work is capable of. This is singular animation that will last for decades. Inspirational and entertaining.
Oil-based paint is the primary medium used to compose this handsome addition to any and all collections. The art lover, the animal lover, the story lover. They can all find solace here. The river Teza runs through the village of Kholuy, and every Spring the river's waters flood the village. This yearly flooding is the basis for the tale of, "Grandfather Mazay and the Hares." Nikolai Nekrasov wrote this tale in the form of a poem for children in 1870. Although he hunted them in winter for food, the kindly old Mazay went about as the river was flooding, picking up the poor rabbits and saving them from drowning. Nekrasov wrote the poem using the language and mentality of Russian villagers, and it comes off as very honest and down to earth. Today, there are many references in Russian culture to Grandfather Mazay, including a variety of jokes! Here, we see Grandfather Mazay some days later, tending to the cute little creatures that he rescued. And no, he does NOT appear hungry!
The box is constructed from paper-mache made in the village of Fedoskino. The piece has also been shaped into a teapot configuration, furthering the feeling of rural village life tenfold. The piece is complete with handle and the smallest of spout-topped lids. A professional dye-resist pattern has been used to coat the exterior of this teapot, away from the composition. This pattern is created by dipping the paper-mache into a mixture of colored oil, paint thinner and water. The results are a marble-like pattern of design made up of tortoise shell green, caramel and orange. The composition is framed with a lace-like scrollwork pattern painted gold. This decoration can also be found on the handle of the teapot and also around the edge of the lid that has been fastened to the spout. The top of the lid, which is rounded, has been painted with a small golden wild flower.
The composition is an absolute delight. The rabbits are even bulging off the surface of the base. This has to do with the way that the paper-mache is carved. The face of Grandfather Mazay and the largest rabbit are two of the more noteworthy features of this complete presentation. Mazay's facial features are Fedoskino realism at its very very best. The rabbit practically jumps right off the surface of the box! Flusters of gold paint act as the background candlelight, expanding upon the seclusion of the characters. The wooden beams that Mazay rests upon display just how much detail the artist can get out of the darkest of colors. From the folds in Mazay's tattered shirt to the eyes of the animals, clever and inviting in every well detailed way.
Upon completion of the piece the artist signs their name and the year of 2003 of which the piece was finished along the interior of the lid in very tiny lettering.
Materials: Egg-tempera paint, paper-mache, gold paint, dye-resist and lacquer.
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About Artist Demyanenkov, Nikolay :
Nikolay Demyanenkov was born in Moscow in 1966. From a young age he dreamt of being an artist. At the age of 17 he graduated from the Abramtsevo art school, where he learned the specialty of painting on ceramic.
Once Nikolay visited an exhibition of Fedoskino lacquer miniatures and decided to enter the Fedoskino Art School. He graduated from the School in 1988. Having graduated from the school, the artist started working at the Fedoskino factory but soon he grew tired of the simple shapes of factory boxes. Together with his younger brother, Nikolay began creating high-quality papier-mache boxes that were unique in shape. In addition, his works are recognizable and notable for their uni
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read about Demyanenkov, Nikolay
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Item Specifications:
- Title: "Grandfather Mazay and the Hares 2003"
- Price: $1050.00
- This specific item is available as a single work.
We do not expect to carry this item in the foreseeable future!
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