CIGAR CASE. La Traversée du désert, biblical scene, 19th cen - Lot 3

CIGAR CASE. La Traversée du désert, biblical scene, 19th century. Papier-mâché case, 6.5 x 14 cm, lacquered with hand-colored lithographed decoration depicting 4 characters wandering in the desert. Bellows and interior leather pocket. One of the plates is slightly missing. Originating in Germany, the papier-mâché technique, decorated with engravings sometimes painted or varnished with lalac, developed in Russia during the second quarter of the 19th century, first at Fedoskino and then in Moscow under the direction of the merchant Loukoutine. Some of Fedoskino's favorite motifs became very popular for many years: "LaTroika", the "tea room", scenes of Russian peasant life. Fedoskino's most popular products were boxes and caskets, decorated with a multitude of intricate figures that were copies of Russian and Western paintings.