The work is called «Alive Water», and shows the boy and the girl enjoying a voyage on the boat. They observe closely the transparent sea water trying to find the seabed. They dream that ancient statues and ruins of Roman temples conceal under the sea.
To create a magic, aquatic atmosphere I have painted the entire scene on mother-of-pearl inlays that shine with a variety of undertones raging from aquamarine to violet and pink. Sparkling silver powder is used to highlight the sky, the costumes of the characters, the boat and the seawater while brilliant gold paint highlights the characters’ hair. Gold metal dust is spread along the borders of the lid. Some elements of the composition are crafted three-dimensionally, for instance, the stone that can be found in the right, middle part of the depicted scene.
The box’s exterior is covered with very pale, violet lacquer mixed richly with gold dust. For additional decoration this pale, violet background is studded with silver veins. On the box’s sides I have painted various tropical fish using oils and silver paint. The scene depicted on the box’s lid is framed with a wide gold band.
The box is constructed from paper-mache. Its interior is traditionally covered with red lacquer. The lid is hinged from the top of the composition and the box rests on legs. The work is signed with my name Knyazev Sergey, the title, the year of 2010 and Fedoskino on the lid’s interior.