An artist of the creative workshop “Paleshane”, Nikolay Kukuliev created the decorative wall panel “Crystal Lacquer”. It is part of a series based on the works of Pavel Bazhov.

The panel “Crystal Lacquer” was painted in the traditional Palekh lacquer miniature technique. The artist used tempera paints which are based on mineral pigments of egg yolk combined with vinegar. They were perfect for applying to any surface and ensured soft and smooth brushwork. The base for the panel was a sheet of cardboard. The artist covered the finished item with lacquer, which protects the paints from bright light and extreme temperature changes.

In the center of the composition, Kukuliev depicted three masters painting trays. An iconostasis with lamps is visible behind them. In the lower right corner are the main characters of the tale: Artyukha Sergach and German master Fyodor Fyodorovich, nicknamed Dvoefedya. Another character is depicted in the lower left corner: he prepares a mixture for lacquer in a pot over the fire. In the upper part, the artist placed an illustration for another episode from the tale: Sergach and Dvoefedya went to the bathhouse to cover the trays with lacquer. According to masters, this procedure was always performed in a hot steam room, and then the finished items were left to cool.