An early 18th century heart-shaped box fretted all over and further carved to the lid with a huntsman and his dog pursuing a bird in flight, the base of the box hollowed out of the solid, Norse (walrus) ivory, and carved with two more birds in flight and an alert hare; most probably a pomander. Archangel, Russia, circa 1750.
w.1 7/8 inch x h.2 1/8 inch x d.7/8 inch
The art of bone carving was developed in the town of Kholmogory in the 17th century. First referenced in connection with two Kholmogory carvers, brothers Yevdokim and Semyon Sheshenin, who were invited to work in the Kremlin Armoury, makers to the tsar’s court. This centre of carving reached its peak in the 18th century, under the reign of Peter the Great when walrus ivory, seal bones, and in rare cases even elephant and mammoth ivory was used in the making of carved boxes, bracelets, portraits, and other objets vertu popular throughout that century.
For similar see The Hermitage Museum.
http://www.hermitagemuseum.org/wps/portal/hermitage/digital-collection/0...
Item Code: 1851
£ 690
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