round in shape, depicting respectively one the face of an elderly gentleman with a long beard caught in a three-quarter-length and one the face of a man with an elongated face, red cheeks and black curls.
Papier-mâché (Italian for ‘papier-mâché’) is a craft technique that involves the use of shredded paper or rags mixed with an adhesive paste (such as glue, flour or resin) to create solid, light, 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 hold valuables or toiletries.
Height x diameter old: 2.5 x 11 cm.
Height x diameter: 2 x 10 cm.