A finely carved Russian vernacular wall cabinet of rectangular form, richly decorated with chip-carved geometric ornament and a painted floral panel in red, green, and white after a design by Elena Poloneva. The single cupboard door is framed by deep zig-zag and lozenge carving, with a projecting turned column to one side and open recess below. The surfaces retain traces of the original stained finish and hand-mixed pigments, lending a warm, time-worn patina. circa 1890–1910

Dimensions
Approx. 55 × 45 × 18 cm

Originally hung on the wall of a rural home, these cupboards served both practical and devotional purposes, storing small objects or icons while displaying the maker’s carving skill Such cabinets were produced in northern Russia, notably the Vologda and Arkhangelsk regions, where the long tradition of domestic woodcarving flourished into the early twentieth century. Their bold geometric ornament and stylised floral motifs reflect both Old Believer craftsmanship and the neo-Russian artistic revival that inspired the Abramtsevo and Talashkino workshops around 1900.

Literature Comparable examples
State Museum of Ethnography, St Petersburg, inv. nos. ME-12445, ME-12503
Christie’s London, Russian Works of Art, Fabergé & Icons, 29 November 2007, lot 188