Daria Khristova nee Chernenko
Department Director
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Lot 58
An iron-bound wood laretzlate 17th-early 18th century, Nizhni Novgorod
27 November 2013, 14:00 GMT
London, New Bond StreetSold for £40,000 inc. premium
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An iron-bound wood laretz
late 17th-early 18th century, Nizhni Novgorod
the double-hinged sloping lid of characteristic teremok form with further double doors to front opening to reveal various brightly painted interior compartments, the pigmented mica exterior secured with meandering iron openwork incorporating stylized tulips flanked by two hinged handles; with keys
39cm wide, 40cm deep, 31cm high
the double-hinged sloping lid of characteristic teremok form with further double doors to front opening to reveal various brightly painted interior compartments, the pigmented mica exterior secured with meandering iron openwork incorporating stylized tulips flanked by two hinged handles; with keys
39cm wide, 40cm deep, 31cm high
Footnotes
From the 16th century onwards, the ingenuity of the village blacksmith extended to fashioning iron-bound trunks. Some of the most sophisticated personal strong-boxes created for the storage of important papers and household plate were crafted in Veliki Ustiug. The prominent trade centre excelled at producing examples with flat-topped hipped roofs covered in openwork straps forming bands of repeating stylised tulips laid over pigmented surfaces.
The proposed multi-sectioned casket is a cut above those with paper or fabric–lined interior as, here, the internal sections preserve their richly painted plant life, ropework-patterned borders and lively scenes. To the contemporary eye, the shooting centaur from Bova Korolevich, the oversized mythical birds and Samson defeating the lion would have resonated as deeply ingrained folk themes. Upon closer inspection, the moustachioed hero prising open the jaws of the lion bears a vague resemblance to Peter the Great. Not only would this have been a luxury item in its day but possibly also a political lampoon drawn from the popular prints or lubki that were available in town markets alongside the exotic parrots and native herbs for sale or simply for artistic inspiration.