Bidspirit auction | Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov (1924–2011)

Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov (1924–2011) - Box “Don Quixote”. Palekh, USSR, 1990. Papier-mâché, egg tempera, raised gold, lacquer. 10 by 16 cm Condition report: Minor signs of wear; loss of the lid fitting. Provenance: From the personal working archive of the Golikov family. Created and preserved by Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov. A late work by Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov, one of the leading masters of the Palekh school, People’s Artist of the RSFSR, and son of Ivan Ivanovich Golikov. The composition is based on Miguel de Cervantes’s “Don Quixote”. The scene is structured around the contrast between Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, with the figures arranged to emphasise their differing characters. Landscape elements, including windmills, are integrated into a decorative pictorial setting typical of Palekh. The palette combines насыщенные tones with extensive use of raised gold. Fine detailing is executed using the traditional multi-layered tempera technique. Collecting & Investment Potential: Works by Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov are held in major museum collections and form part of the established canon of Palekh miniature painting. Subjects based on European literary sources are significantly less common within Palekh. Late works with such themes attract particular interest from collectors. A rare literary subject interpreted within the Palekh tradition by Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov. Works of this nature are infrequently encountered and appeal to collectors seeking distinctive themes.