Cast iron lockbox circa mid-19th - early 20th century (pre-1917), with maker's mark & original key.
Stands almost 3" tall, 5" x 4" lid, 5 ¼" x 4 ¼" at the base. The Imperial Double-Headed Eagle warrant, the maker's mark "КУС" and the price (3 rubles) are stamped on the inside of the lid. Comes with the original key, the locking mechanism has been tested and found in perfect working condition. The bottom features what appears to be the artist's initials "И Ш" (I Sh) next to one of the legs. The artwork on the lid presents an idyllic scene with a young woman carrying a jar in her hands and what looks like some fruit or round loaves of bread in her apron.
Stands almost 3" tall, 5" x 4" lid, 5 ¼" x 4 ¼" at the base. The Imperial Double-Headed Eagle warrant, the maker's mark "КУС" and the price (3 rubles) are stamped on the inside of the lid. Comes with the original key, the locking mechanism has been tested and found in perfect working condition. The bottom features what appears to be the artist's initials "И Ш" (I Sh) next to one of the legs. The artwork on the lid presents an idyllic scene with a young woman carrying a jar in her hands and what looks like some fruit or round loaves of bread in her apron. She is accompanied by a very large dog and a boy, probably her brother who appears to be gathering wild flowers for his sister or perhaps some herbs for their dinner. The scene is tastefully framed in a floral ornament in all 4 corners.
In excellent outstanding condition. Barely any traces of rust to the surface. No other damage of any kind to the metal. As mentioned before, the locking mechanism is in perfect working condition. Contrary to most of the modern "locking standards", the box locks when rotating the key counter-clockwise.
Kusa is a small city in the Chelyabinsk Region in the Urals, famous for its artistic cast-iron castings since the 19th century and located not so far from Kasli, another such famous producer of artistic cast-iron castings. Sadly, the masters of Kusa stopped their work in 2021, surrendering to the changing post-Soviet economy conditions and yielding to the Kasli competition.
Please note that the quarter coin in our photo is for size reference.
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