SKU: 320312726274

	Russian Hand-painted Chestnut Horse Brooch, Leonova This item is a new hand-painted Russian brooch (with pendant converter) by world famous artist Natalia Leonova. Ms. Leonova is a lover of horses and the best artist of horses in Russia, so her depictions of horses are absolutely outstanding and breathtaking. This brooch is painted in oils on high quality mother-of-pearl framed in German silver. Ms. Leonova's execution is of the highest, museum-grade quality. Ms. Leonova's original artwork is executed in oil paints in multi-layer techniques, with a layer of lacquer between each layer of painting. She also has created wonderful shades of pink and light blue in the background, making this brooch/pendant compatible with a variety of colors. The brooch was painted this spring. The miniature details and expression in the horse’s face and bridle are amazing, as Ms. Leonova is one of the finest artists of horses in the world. His expression and the details of his gorgeous dapples and flowing mane are fantastic. The mother-of-pearl is the highest quality, so its depth adds much interest to the painting as it is turned in various lights. The brooch is 2 inches tall and 1 5/8 inches wide. It is signed on the back. The sterling silver pendant converter is suitable for chains and collars up to 2.7 mm in diameter. Many of Ms. Leonova's lacquer boxes are in the collection of the Fedoskino Factory Museum in Fedoskino, Russia, and the Arts and Crafts Museum in Moscow. (I was able to see this collection on my recent tour of the factory!) Ms. Leonova is a graduate of the Fedoskino School of Miniature Art and has been the art director at the Fedoskino Factory. She took me on a tour of the factory recently and introduced me to several artists and artisans; it was a very memorable and fascinating day. (When we entered the room where artists were working, one happened to be painting a copy of Natalia’s famous work, ‘Snowstorm.’ As we watched them work, Natalia gave the artists creative ideas to enhance the boxes which they were painting.) Ms. Leonova has created boxes for many heads of state. These have included state gifts such as her masterpiece “Troikas,” which was presented to President Reagan by Mikhael Gorbachev on his first U.S. visit. When President and Mrs. Reagan visited Moscow, they were given a decorative lacquer chest created by Natalia. Her boxes, panels and chests have been presented as diplomatic gifts from Soviet and Russian government delegations to the heads of state of Canada, Japan, France, Italy, Sweden, Cuba, the UK, Germany and several others. In 1999, Natalia personally presented her "Winter Troika" chest to Cannes Mayor Maurice Delauney during the Festival of Russian Culture. Natalia Leonova's work is truly collectible and destined to become a family heirloom. Her work is in the private art collections of top-rate collectors in Russia and abroad. My mother and I both wear Natalia's brooches regularly (as pendants), and people ask us constantly about them, as they are fascinated with the quality of her work. About the seller: I have lived in St. Petersburg, Russia, for 14 years, where I work in leadership development of college students. For the last three years, I have been developing my business, Hansa Traders, through which I sell quality Russian handpainted and handcrafted items. I am enthralled with the Russians' ability to create gorgeous works of art in miniature. I have worked directly with Ms. Leonova, and other artists from Fedoskino, for three years. For more information, buyers can view my 'About Me' page by clicking on the 'me' icon near my feedback number. Customer satisfaction is guaranteed, and shipment will be prompt! Our preferred method of payment on Ebay is Pay Pal. If paying by personal check, please allow time for receipt of the check and four business days for bank clearance after receipt. Sales tax applies only to residents of Tennessee. We ship within one to two business days after receiving Pay Pal payment, and within one business day after check clearance. Most items are shipped within one day of receiving Pay Pal payment. If you have a need for expedited shipment, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate your needs! Shipping costs include insurance and signature confirmation for domestic orders. For international shipments, costs include registration and tracking. Our preferred methods of shipping are Priority U.S. mail and FedEx. If you have other needs, please let us know as soon as possible. Thank you! We want you to be 100% satisfied with your purchase! We are sure you will love your art work, but if you are not satisfied, we have a money back guarantee if item is returned within 7 days in perfect condition. Notification of return must be received within 4 days. The item must be shipped for return within 7 days with appropriate insurance and packing materials. Any damage in return shipment is the buyer's responsibility. Shipping both directions is buyer's responsibility. Allowances are made for international buyers. Thank you so much! I have lived in St. Petersburg, Russia, for 14 years, where I work in leadership development of college students. For the last four years, I have been developing my business, Hansa Traders, through which I sell quality Russian and Estonian hand-painted and handcrafted items. I am enthralled with the Russians' ability to create gorgeous works of art in miniature. I have worked directly with Natalia Leonova, a world famous miniature artist, for over three years. Other artist friends represented in my store have been friends for many years as well. I enjoy promoting the art of highly recognized artists and helping others expand their horizons! For more information, buyers can view my About Me page: http://members.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=hansatraders Customer satisfaction is guaranteed, and shipment will be prompt! In order to protect the privacy of my customers, this listing is private as a result of the new feedback system. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us via the Ebay message system, and we will answer your message as soon as possible! Thank you!