Can anyone identify these?

[milesrich111]

Are they genuine has anyone heard of this dealer?

[maxine*j]

Ah, thanks.   I don't expect OP to ever return, but I enjoyed this, anyway. 

[milesrich111]

Thanks for being so helpful. They didn't come with a certificate of authenticity you see so we didn't know if they were fake. I wasn't getting notifications for this thread first time I've used it 

[maxine*j]

Yes, you have to be signed in to the boards (The Community) to get the notifications.

[maxine*j]

All I can tell you is that based on what I can see, they look authentic.  Unfortunately, photos on the computer are not enough to say for sure.  The way they feel in the hand is important, etc.

There are some tips here on telling real from fake:

http://www.russianamericancompany.com/tips-to-identify-real-vs-fake-lacquer-boxes/

and here:

https://ezinearticles.com/?The-Bane-of-Fake-Russian-Lacquered-Boxes&id=6417738

and here:

https://www.antiquetrader.com/articles/feature-stories/authentic_russian_lacquer_boxes/

[olgasot]

I did some research on a Masquerde box and found it in a Russian on-line store. The artist name is Lidyaeva

Лидяева. The size of the box is 15 x 11 x 4 cm. The price in a store is 9000 rubles. I couldn't post the link to the store since ebay claimed it was invalid. It worked for me, though. I did research on 

Шкатулка Федоскино "Маскарад"

[argon38]

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@olgasot wrote:

I did some research on a Masquerde box and found it in a Russian on-line store. The artist name is Lidyaeva

Лидяева.

---

Well, I'm confused. Surely the name on the OP's two boxes is Олисова, not Лидяева:

[argon38]

The artist is identified as Olisova (Олисова) here:

https://dom-podarka.ru/catalog/interior-decorations/boxes/wooden-boxes/292-134-shkatulka-fedoskino-m...

[argon38]

Another confirmation of Maxine's reading, Olisova:

https://www.r-gifts.ru/catalog/souvenirs/handicrafts/fedoskino/70704/

[argon38]

Another Olisova identification:

http://www.art-east.ru/1967285/

[argon38]

Another:

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/684124999615597077/

[argon38]

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@argon38 wrote:

Another:

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/684124999615597077/

---

Actually that one was added to Pinterest by one of the sellers already mentioned, so it doesn't really count.

I've found the 9000 ruble box signed Lidyaeva (Лидяева), according to the listing. Same illustration as the OP's, but the shape of the box is different:

https://imatreshki.ru/magazin/product/shkatulka-fedoskino-maskarad-avt-lidyayeva

So that's a bit of a puzzle. But I'm positiive that Olisova is the name on the OP's box.

[olgasot]

Lidyaeva and Olisova may well be the same person, certainly a woman.  The last name can be legally changed after a marriage. 

[argon38]

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@argon38 wrote:

---

I've found the 9000 ruble box signed Lidyaeva (Лидяева), according to the listing. Same illustration as the OP's, but the shape of the box is different

---

Actually, comparing it more closely with the OP's box you begin to see the differences. For instance:

   

Olisova version on the left, Lidyaeva version on the right. Overall, the Lidyaeva version is more crudely done. 

Here is the signature on the Lidyaeva box - clearly quite different from the OP's:

[argon38]

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@olgasot wrote:

Lidyaeva and Olisova may well be the same person, certainly a woman.  The last name can be legally changed after a marriage. 

---

The Lidyaeva version appears less skilled when you compare it closely to the Olisova design. It does seem strange, as they are clearly the same basic illustration, but I don't think they were painted by the same person.

[argon38]

Just for comparison: Olisova first, Lidyaeva underneath.