Lacquer miniatures rank as one of the most original and diverse handicrafts that developed in keeping with century old traditions. It takes around 6 months for the artist to make this lacquer casket. This box is made of paper-mâché which could be shaped into widely diverse forms. It is painted with tempera (pigment) painting and golden powder. This box is lacquered about 8-10 times.
Here opens a very unusual view of The Church on the Spilt Blood. The canal’s perspective pulls us towards The Church on the Spilt Blood. This image sparkles due to mother of pearl.
The cathedral is attractive with its splendor and tremendous amount of decor: figured moldings, belts, carved and colored glazed tiles. Five domes of the temple (about 1000 square meters in area) are covered by jeweled enamel. Its bell tower is decorated with mosaic coats of arms of cities and provinces of the Russian empire.
The foreground of this work shows the Bank Bridge which is decorated with sculptures of griffins (mythical creatures that have the head of a lion and a body with wings of an eagle). According to ancient legends, griffins possess an ability to protect gold. Their placement on the bridge is not coincidental - they sit next to the former bank building.

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