Russian lacquerware developed in rural villages and formed a legacy of artists adapting local traditions to a new artistic medium.  The ornate papier-mâché treasures are decorated with detailed paintings of folk stories and fairy tales. Then they are lacquered and polished to a high sheen, giving them a charming, lifelike glow. The Museum of Russian Icons has opened an exhibition showcasing over 100 of these colorful gems: “Miniature Masterpieces: Russian Lacquer Boxes.” It’s open until March 28. The art of Russian lacquer ranks among Russia’s most beautiful artistic achievements of the 20th century. It’s a medium rooted in the religious art of icon painting, according to the museum’s website. Before the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, many icon painters were employed creating beautiful religious works for churches and private homes.  Workshops in the countryside produced icons for centuries. By the mid-18th century, the economies of these villages were reliant on this …