First I researched the four schools of art in Russia that produce the black lacquer boxes. The schools are known by the villages where they reside: Fedoskino, Palekh, Kholui, and Mstera.

I learned how the papier mache boxes and buttons are made and that the very fine and delicate artwork is done under a magnifying glass with a paintbrush of sable or one hair from the tail of a squirrel. The decorative gold leaf borders around the boxes are added just before the final lacquering and are done freehand, with no two being alike.

I then researched the fairy tale my button depicted, the Mistress of Copper Hill. I actually found the story on the internet, complete with pictures from lacquer boxes depicting scenes from the story. They are just gorgeous!

This, of course, got me looking for more Russian fairy tales. Many of the stories are similar to ours, such as Sleeping Beauty, The Princess and the Seven Bogatyrs(our Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs), The Fisherman and the Magic Fish, etc. Some of you have probably heard of The Firebird and perhaps Ruslan and Ludmilla.

The fairy tales led me further into Russian literature. I discovered the poet and writer Alexander Pushkin. As a child Pushkin was told many fairy tales by his nanny. When he grew up he used his knowledge of these tales to write about life in his times. By writing fairy tales he was able to cover topics that might not otherwise be tolerated by the politics of his country.

So this is the outcome from the purchase of one button:

• I learned about the four schools of Russian art.
• I learned how Russian lacquer boxes and buttons are made and how they are painted.
• I discovered many beautifully illustrated Russian fairy tales.
• I discovered and read the poetry and stories of Alexander Pushkin.