Walrus bone and ivory veneered box. Kholmogory, early 19th century. Traditional two-tiered form, resting on four feet. The wooden core is studded with openwork plates of various animal bones, walrus ivory and mammoth ivory. The colorants used are natural plant dyes (wild rowan, elderberry, alder bark, onion peel, saffron, blueberry...). Height: 21 cm; 24 x 21.5 cm Bone carving was highly developed from the 17th century onwards in northern Russia, where game and walrus hunting provided abundant material. Kholmogory soon became the main production center for products destined for St. Petersburg via the port of Arkhangelsk. [Russian art]