Hand-Painted Russian Souvenir Balalaika

This is a traditional Russian balalaika, a three-stringed musical instrument characterized by its iconic triangular wooden body. This specific model features a black-finished soundboard decorated with intricate, etched or stenciled silvery lace-like patterns in the corners. Centered on the body is a large, circular hand-painted scene depicting a Russian Orthodox cathedral, likely the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood in St. Petersburg, set against a vibrant blue sky with stylized white clouds. The instrument features a dark-stained fretboard with small white dot inlays and three tuning pegs mounted on a slightly angled headstock. The construction appears to be lightweight wood, typical of mid-to-late 20th-century souvenir items produced for the tourist trade in the Soviet Union or modern Russia. The body shows minor surface wear, with some light scuffing visible on the black finish and around the edges. The painting remains vibrant and intact. It is a prima-sized instrument, though it serves more as a decorative folk art piece than a professional-grade musical instrument. The strings appear to be present but the bridge is not clearly visible, suggesting it may be flat for display purposes.