A rare chest known as a "headrest-chest" (Сундук-подголовник). Behind the tinned iron strapwork red parchment topped with thin sheets of mica add color and richness to the surface. Although it may appear at first as a writing slope, in fact this style of "headrest" was used for travel and the owner would sleep resting their head atop their precious belongings locked away in the chest. Made in either Kholmogory, Arkhangelsk Oblast, or Veliky Ustyug, Vologda Oblast Russia. Possibly a "IV" on the body of the first larger lock.
The pierced iron strapwork took considerable skill to fabricate in a pre-industrial age.

24 x 11 x 19 in (60.96 x 28 x 48.3 cm)

Condition:
Excellent condition. Includes the original key. Both locks function perfectly. Interior secret compartment has one replaced strip of wood.

Literature:

Pudov, Gleb Aleksandrovich (2021). From the history of Russian chest craft. Digest of articles. liters. (Пудов, Г. (2021). Из истории русского сундучного промысла. Сборник статей. Litres.) ISBN 978-5-0055-5230-3

Provenance:
Private Virginia Collection