Bidspirit auction | Mikhail Petrovich Vakurov (1890–1942)

Mikhail Petrovich Vakurov (1890–1942) - Antique Box “Khutorok”. Palekh, USSR, 1935. Papier-mâché, egg tempera, raised gold, lacquer. 9 by 7 cm Condition report: Signs of wear; minor scratches and abrasions to the lacquer and paint layer; restored (glued); inventory markings on the reverse. Provenance: From the family collection of the Golikov dynasty. Preserved within the archive of Nikolai Ivanovich Golikov as an early Palekh work. A work by Mikhail Petrovich Vakurov, one of the founding figures of Palekh lacquer miniature painting and a key contributor to its early development. Dated 1935, the piece belongs to the formative period of the Palekh school. The composition presents a lyrical scene with two figures set within a landscape. Figures and environment are integrated into a balanced decorative structure. The palette combines cinnabar, green, and gold tones against a deep black ground. The painting is executed in the traditional tempera technique with raised gold, featuring the refined linear detailing characteristic of early Palekh works. Collecting & Investment Potential: Works by Mikhail Petrovich Vakurov are rare examples of early Palekh production and are primarily held in museum collections. Pre-war works of this type are seldom encountered on the market and are of particular interest to collectors and institutions. An early Palekh work by a founding artist, representing the formative period of the tradition. Such pieces are rarely available and hold strong institutional appeal.