thumb|300px|right|A Palekh jewelry box depicting a scene from the fairy tale [[Tsarevitch Ivan, the Fire Bird and the Gray Wolf]]
Russian lacquer art developed from the art of icon painting, which came to an end with the collapse of Imperial Russia. The icon painters, who previously had been employed by supplying not only churches but people's homes, needed a way to make a living. Thus, the craft of making papier-mâché decorative boxes and panels developed, the items were lacquered and then hand painted by the artists, often with scenes from folk tales.
Background
Lacquer art rose in popularity during the eighteenth century. Artists were inspired by Western European countries use of lacquers, and artisans were invited to Russia to help train Russian apprentices. Initially, Russian lacquer designs were closely related to their European and East Asian inspirations. But during the nineteenth century lacquer artists began painting idealized scenes of the country and peasant life, as well as representations of Russian folk tales.