Heirloom chest
Nuristan, Hindukush, northeastern Afghanistan
Himalaya cederwood, smoking patina
18th / 19th cent.
appr. 6,3 / 3 / 4,6 ft (width/depth/heigth)
price upon request

Nuristan, which would translate like „land of the light“, was supposingly the area which Alexander the Great has passed once. Therefore there are speculations about the Nuristani beeing the direct descendents of these Greek. – The area of the Hindukush has been islamicized very late at around 1895/96, hence the old tradition has survived a very long time. – Chest were the mere storage facility within the families and were used for various household objects and clothing. Special chests have been made for storaging grain and rice. – This particular chest, which is enourmous size and the high relief design consisting out of beasts, warriors and gemetric motifs, was the centerpiece of a wealthy and socially high ranking family. Due to its size and the only entrance, a lid above, it was a pretty inpractible storage chest but rather a fantastic heirloom chest.