The 18th century occupies a special place in the history of Russian copper work. It was both a transitional period and a time of flourish for craft, represented by a number of peculiar features. They were manifested in the collection of forged tableware with stamped or engraved patterns and household items made of copper and brass produced in the Urals.
The formation and prosperity of the copper-mining industry in the Urals in the 18th century generally contributed to the development of Russian copper work. The large number of copper and brass items from the Urals preserved to this day presents researchers with ample material for conducting in-depth studies. The copper tableware trade, formed on an industrial basis, allows one to determine the appearance of novelties in copper work and, by association, in non-ferrous metal work of the 18th century. The heyday of copper trade in the Urals went hand-in-hand with the political and economic environment in Russia. Its development was facilitated by the availability of rich natural resources: the Urals had plenty of ore, timber that was used both as fuel and as a building material, rivers for transportation and powering dams and factories. The proximity of ore smelters to waterways provided shipping routes and gave opportunities to trade copper with Central Russia.
The development of non-ferrous metallurgy in the Urals was largely facilitated by the organizational talent and technical know-how of Vilim Ivanovich Gennin and Vasily Nikitich Tatishchev — associates of Peter I, who stood at the origins of mining. This was further amplified by the entrepreneurial acumen of Russian industrialists and the inexhaustible creative potential of craftsmen. Copper products of the Urals of the 18th — early 20th centuries speak volumes of the talent of the craftsmen and their ability to turn everyday objects into pieces of art.
The jewelry box on display in the Historical and Memorial Museum of the Demidovs was used to store jewelry, money, papers and other small but valuable items. In the Urals of the 18th century, there was a trend to produce copper and brass jewelry boxes. They were decorated with stamped European-style floral patterns. Jewelry boxes with shiny surfaces, and Ural-made copper and brass items became popular in St.Petersburg because of their intricate decorations. The inner walls of the copper jewelry boxes were coated with a thin layer of molten tin, which protected copper from corrosion. Food stored in tinned containers stayed fresh longer, as it prevented oxidation.
