Russian Art Nouveau Style Silver Match Holder, 1890s

Silver match holder, made in the Russian Art Nouveau style, with the image of Leshy. The front side is decorated with a chest-to-chest relief of the spirit of the forests - the goblin. A shaggy, tangled beard, a winter hat, a high collar of a fur coat, a frightening grimace of an unkind face personify the character and way of his life. A womans face appears through the mirage of the figure - the devils favorite way of spending time is to scare girls. The back side of the matchbox is decorated with a relief image of a bar of gifts-amulets that people offer to the devil before going into the forest. The misty shadows of the faces of children and girls emerging from the silver evoke mystery and otherworldly mystery in relationships with forest spirits; affirm the metaphysical, sacred image of the forest. The matchbox promises its owner the key to parallel spaces, participation in the sacraments, and power over the elements of fire. Russia, approx. 1900 Silver with semi-precious stones and glass. Height: 6 cm. Weight: 50 g.