A branch of the nevyansky chest craft (kungur chest production of the mid 19th to early 20th century)

The Urals has long been one of the centers of Russian chest making. The literature usually talks about the masters of Nevyansk and Nizhny Tagil, although chests and caskets were not only made in these villages. This paper is devoted to the chest craft that existed in the villages of the Kungur district and which originated under the influence of factory artisans - a topic which has attracted little attention of researchers. Its relevance is increasing given today’s interest in the history of regional centers of folk art. This article offers a general description of the chest craft of Kungur district and determines its significance in the history of Russian chest production. Information is provided on the organization of production, the number of manufactured chests, and the participation of craftsmen in exhibitions. The artistic and technical features of the products are analyzed. Complex and comparative research methods were used in studying the history of the Kungur chest craft. It is concluded that the Troelzhanskaya volost of Kungursky Uyezd in the second half of the 19th to early 20th century was a regionally significant center of the chest production.