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	Russian Hand-painted Sleigh Bell Borzoi/Wolfhound Hunt This item is a brass Russian sleigh bell hand-painted in tempera by artist A. Lebedeva. It is painted with a lovely Russian hunt scene inspired by a famous Russian painting. Two Borzoi run alongside the horsemen, ready for the hunt. The colors and detail are wonderful.  Ms. Lebedeva loves animals and excels at capturing their beauty and personalities in miniature. After being painted in multi-layered techniques, the bell is lacquered three times to preserve and protect the painting. The bell is in perfect condition, and is a genuine Russian sleigh bell made in the tradition of 'The Bells of Valdai,' which have been manufactured in Russia since 1478. The tassel completes the look to make it a wonderful piece to display year round, and the bell may be useful as a dinner bell or other such use! The sound of this bell is absolutely wonderful. Because it is a true sleigh bell, it has a very clear, beautiful tone. These bells have been immortalized in a Russian folk song, 'There speeds the daring troika along the highway, and the little bell, gift of Valdai, jingles longingly under the harness bow.' The bell ships in a velveteen bag with a card telling the legend of the Bells of Valdai and the words of this folk song. Ms. Lebedeva's trademark is her ability to capture the eyes and expressions of animals. Her favorite subjects are dogs, horses and foxes, and she has painted both extensively. She is a graduate of the prestigious Repin Academy of Art in St. Petersburg, and she has been creating works in miniature for 15 years. She loves for her art work to bring joy to people. The bell measures 2 inches tall.  It ships with biographical information about the artist and the card telling the history of Russian bells. They are fabulous gifts for any occasion! (Shipping costs include insurance.) Please be sure to check my other store listings for other horse art items!   It is listed as a private auction in order to protect buyers' privacy as a result of the new feedback system.  Thank you! 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!