Salt Box In Silver .russia XIXth Century Nicholai Rukavishnikov. Kostroma

Silver salt box. Russia XIXth century

Master silversmith Nicholai Rukavishnikov: 1870 and early XXth century in Kostroma
Hallmark: 84, Moscow, 1899-1908. Goldsmith's hallmark: Nicholai Rukavishnikov, active from 1870 to 1911.
H .: 7.4 cm - L .: 4.7 cm. Weight: 46.7 gr.

The silver “salt chairs”, sometimes also called “salt thrones”, made by eminent silversmiths, represent the Russian house, “the isba”, an important link with the life of Russian peasants. In the imagination of the Russian peasant (moujik), the isba is a living being. The names of its different parts are taken from the names of the parts of the human body (for example Окно, the window, comes from Око the eye…). Like a human being, she sees, she hears, she has sensations.
This idea has always been a source of inspiration for Russian folklore, and the roots of these beliefs run very deep. The "salt chairs" did not escape this influence. Despite its rural origin, the concept then spread at the end of the XIXth century to the cities where famous goldsmiths (here Nicholai Rukavishnikov in Kostroma, one of the cities of the golden ring of Russia, made up of several cities princely, located around the Russian capital.) made them in silver.
The chair, which contained the salt, had a hinged flap. Different styles, but always incorporating the concept of the isba, (this one for example with its crossed lines and its columns reminds the house and the birds the refuge nest). The dimensions of these salt chairs were of the order of 6 to 10 centimeters in height.
During the meal, the salt chair was placed at one end of the table, near the most important guest. (wikipedia)