"Memento mori" Russian lacquered box

It is round and depicts a Memento Mori, in the centre of which appears a male face with the inscription ‘sum’ (from the Latin for ‘I am’); on the left, the face of a child with the inscription ‘fui’ (from the Latin for ‘I was’) and on the right a skull with the inscription ‘ero’ (I was). On the back of the three figures is a black curtain and a landscape.Papier-mâché (Italian for ‘papier-mâché’) is an artisanal technique that consists of using shredded paper or rags mixed with an adhesive paste (such as glue, flour or resin) to create solid, light and mouldable objects. The paper pulp can be moulded into different shapes, such as sculptures, masks, decorative objects or containers, and once hardened, the object is often sanded, decorated and painted.The papier-mâché technique has been used since ancient times in many cultures, but became particularly popular in Europe between the 17th and 19th centuries.In Russia, the production of papier mâché boxes became particularly important in the 19th century, but developed significantly as early as the 18th century. These boxes were famous for their black lacquer finish with pictorial details, which often depicted scenes from everyday life, landscapes or Russian folklore subjects, and were intended to contain valuables or toiletries.

Item condition grading: **** good.The lot is in a good state of preservation with the normal wear and defects commensurate with its age and use over time.

Height x width x depth: 2.5 x 9 x 9 cm. Weight: 69 g.