Featured Russian Lacquer Box - Tale of Silverhoof - Artist?

This is from the reseller's treasures. I am hoping it is an older piece because the back is well worn. It took me a while, but I figured out it depicts the tale of Silverhoof, who taps the roof with his silver hoof and leaves jewels for the kindly old man who takes in an orphan girl and her cat. Little Silver Hoof (greatrussi angifts.com) The first piece of writing is the Russian word for Silverhoof (Серебряное копытце) It is beautifully painted, so I am hoping the artist is a known painter of Russian lacquer boxes, and someone knows his name. The box is 6 1/4 inches long. 4 1/4 inches wide and 1 3/4 inches tall. It has a continuous hinge. Any help appreciated.

 

The word in the middle is Lipetsk, which is a Russian town not known as well for lacquerware as a few others, but still known lacquerware producers. From the following, it sounds like there was an artist's collective formed there "55 years ago" (but I don't know when that was written). Still, mid-20th century would be the earliest date, if this is accurate:
https://therussianshop.com/russian-lacquer-boxes/lacquer-box-miniature-painting/lipetsk/

And another link I just found about Lipetsk. https://sunbirds.com/texts/themes/1119

The last name of the artist appears to be Merkutov. I found a couple of old sales in Worthpoint said to be signed by a Merkutov, but neither one shows a close up of the signature, and may not be the same artist. These also look different from each other, so may not be by the same person. The second one says it is from Palekh, so that would definitely not be the same as yours.
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/russian-ussr-lacquer-box-signed-425116560

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/collectible-russian-lacquer-miniature-palekh-box

 

Perfect! Perfect! Perfect.! I so appreciate this Fig. This is exactly what I wanted to know. Fascinating that someone appreciated artists enough to offer low cost housing and a steady income rather than produce boxes using less experienced and maybe less talented ones. I love the idea of a collective creating these boxes. Having the artist's name is especially wonderful. Using this I can do searches. The second WP link says Merkutovs with an "s" Was this a mistake? Thank you so much!

 

The second link about Lipetsk you found dates my box at its earliest date in the 1960's Thanks for this

 

russian lacquer miniatures – Cherry's Cache (cherrycache.org)

This link has a detailed discussion and a short comment about Lipestk, as follows

"Some years ago, the Soviet government tried to artificially create a fifth centre of folk art in the industrial city of Lipetsk. Artists were tempted to re-settle there with promises of modern flats, bathrooms and running water (luxuries not available in the ‘izba’). Sadly, the experiment was a failure; nothing new or creative has emerged from Lipetsk, and it now turns out low quality miniatures for the tourist market. The artists who moved there could never return, and gradually they lost both their individual creativity and the vital link into the main body of the art."

While I don't think my box is modern, this is a sad commentary on state managed collectives.

 

Very interesting info. Thank you!

As for the "s" at the end of the word in that other listing, the seller's photos are inadequate for seeing the signature. However I am guessing it could be a typo.

 

I was thinking that it might be a cut and paste with the word artists before the word Merkutovs. So typo. Thanks.

 

It’s a beautiful box and such a lovely tale

 

I was also charmed by this tale, which I never heard off. He can come to my roof anytime. I have a cat.

 

Charming box Kiko. And a subject that warms a joolie's heart.

Very Soviet era. Which also means things may not have been as well-intentioned or well organised as they seemed.

 

Didn't read this before I posted the previous. Anyway, that is what I meant. It is the old Soviet story.

 

I get your meaning. I think in terms of North American artists collectives which are probably something else entirely.

 

Not a natural coming together of creative people then Even most of the natural ones come and go. What made me sad was there was no way back.