Rawhide Gifts and Gallery
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History of the Birch Bark Boxes   

    Birch bark fold crafts have a long history in Russia and Siberia, but the boxes that you are now seeing have a relatively recent history. Native people naturally made use of locally available materials. In the taiga forests of Russia and Siberia, the birch tree provided a useful and important local material, Birch Bark. Birch bark has many useful purposes, has antibacterial properties. Russians used birch bark for shoes, to provide a warm lining for hand tools, and especially used containers lined with birch bark to store grains, honey, dried fruits and various liquids. The Mongol warriors used birch bark to waterproof their composite bows. Over time, folk crafts that served utilitarian purposes later became decorative art.  Almost every region of Russia has a distinct birch bark style. During the Soviet period, the folk crafts were highly encouraged but the styles were purposely kept very plain and rudimentary.  The birch bark is collected only during a brief interval in June and from trees that have been marked for logging. The bark from the one birch tree provides enough material for about five of the largest boxes. Birch bark as a medium has properties in between paper and wood. Like paper, the bark can be made into sheets, painted or bent into flexible shapes. But like wood, the bark is durable, waterproof and can be carved. The boxes are still hand carved using a variety of special tools. A finished piece is coated with a thin layer of paraffin wax. The boxes are made in turn of the century style workshops. In Russian Folk wisdom, it was believed that touching a birch tree restored the emotions and helped to reduce stress. Parents made talismans from birch bark for their children called igrushki-oberegi, to ward off evil spirits.  Slowly the craft has turned from purely utilitarian purposes to becoming more decorative. The boxes, hair barrettes and combs and brushes you see are now a mixture of the old traditions and new artistic  freedoms.

One in stock of each item shown. Boxes will be shipped by first class mail. We try to double box, or use extra padding to make sure your box arrives safely :) If you wish your box to be insured, be sure to let us know. We will estimate insurance shipping costs for you.

Please note that several of these boxes have carved interiors. Please click on the images, or where-ever mentioned, to see close-ups of the boxes and interiors.

 

 

Click on the images to see a larger view
Prices reflect United State Shipping. Please contact us for additional shipping info if you
are out of the United States.

Acorn Birch bark box
SOLD1. Acorn Box approx 2 1/2" deep and 6 1/2" wide.
Carved detailed russian birch bark braided heart box
2. Heart Box #1 approx 2 1/4" deep and 7 1/2 " wide $40.00 plus shipping
  Tulip russian carved box
3. Tulip Box approx 2 1/2" deep and 5 1/2" wide  
Russian Birch Bark Egg Shaped Carved Box
4. Small carved Egg box, 1 1/2" deep, 3 1'2" long $8.95 plus shipping
Tri-cornered russian acorn box
5. SOLD Tri cornered Acorn Box approx 2 3/4" deep and  6" wide  
  Intricate carved oval russian box
6. Carved Oval Box approx 5 3/4" wide and 1 1/4" deep $29.00 (carved interior-click here for image)
intricate carved russian round box
SOLD 36.00
Tricornered howling wolf box
 8. Tri Cornered Howling Wolf approx 3 1/4" wide and 2" deep  
 


 SOLD 9. Large Moose Box  approx 5 3/4" wide  and  2 1/4 deep  

Moose Mini Brich Bark Box
10. Mini moose box approx 2 1/2" wide and 1 1/2" deep $16.95 plus shipping 
Carved Birch Bark Chest
11. Carved Chest Box approx 4 1/2 "wide, 6 1/2" long, 5" deep $42.95
plus shipping
  Small round horse birch bark box
12. Round box w/horse approx 3" wide and 1" deep   (carved interior-click here for image)
Small Intricately carved Birch Bark Box
13Intricately Carved Small Heart Box Carved with many different cuts then laid over darker wood for a dramatic effect! approx 4 3/4" wide 1 3/4" deep $29.95 plus shipping  (click interior image here)
Rearing horses birch bark box
 14 Round box w/rearing horses approx 4 1/4 wide and 1 1/2" deep  (carved interior-click here for image)
    5 inch braided Russian heart box
15.Smaller braided heart box-Intricate inner crisscross heart, outer braided hear, with additional detail around the outside edges of the box lid itself. Gorgeous! Heart lid is 5" wide x 3 1/2"; box is 1 1/4" deep $25.95 plus shipping
Western style Carved Russian Birch Bark Box
16. Western style carved Birch bark box. Beautiful. Perfect for rings and small jewelry.
Heart lid 31/2" x 2 3/4"; box 1 3/4. $14.95 plus shipping
Snowflake-like round Russian Birch Bark Box
17. Snowflake-like carving on the lid with a similar pattern on the base, White birch bark base.
3" x 1 1/2" $14.00 plus shipping
  Western style small oval Russain Carved Birch bark Box
18. Western style oval birch bark box with a rope-style carving on the bottom half of the lid. Makes a great match to #16.
3" x 1 1/2" $10.25 plus shipping
small daisy bos, scalloped edges; dainty
19. Tiny, daisy-like box with scalloped edging and dainty center flowers.
2 1/4" x 1"
Russian birch bark box, inlaid of black and gold straw, beautiful geometric pattern, lacquered base
20. SOLD Russian birch bark box, inlaid of black and gold straw-like, beautiful geometric pattern, lacquered base4 1/2" long x 3 " wide x 1 1/2 deep $17.50 plus shipping
  Russian Birch Bark Box, Rectangle with Snowflake pointed star center
21. Mysterious center pointed star; almost an emblem! Goes great with #25.
3 1/4" long x 3 3/4" wide x 1 3/4 deep.$25.00 plus shipping

Russian Birck Bark Box
22. For the godchild, or the first communicant; This is their first special book! Lid is 5 1/4" x 3 1/4"; box is 1 3/4" deep $22.95 plus shipping

Russian Birchbark Box, oval colored green
23. Exquisite and detailed carving! The pieces almost look inlaid.  5" long x 1 1/4" deep  $41.50 plus shipping

 

Russian Birch Bark Box, scalloped Acorn Box
24.  Scalloped edges and romantic style carvings on the side complement the acorns laid on top within another scalloped circle. Earth tones. 4 1/4 x 1 1/2" $25.95 plus shipping

Pointed Star, Russian Birch Bark Box
25. Pointed star surrounded by two scalloped rings of light birch bark on darker wood. Dramatic.  4 " x 1 3/4" $25.95 plus shipping

Russian Birch Bark Box, flowered style
26. Interwoven chaining of lighter birch bark on medium colored bark with some darker 'flowers'. 3 1/2" x 1 3/4" $19.25 plus shipping 

 

Carved Russain Birchbark Box, western flavor
 27.  Western style carving round birch bark box also would make a great set to #16 and #18!  3" x 1 1/2" $9.50 plus shipping

Russian Carved Birchbark Box-Floral

28. Most beautiful box of all, and the largest, the flowers look almost to be made of leather. Rope-lie carving encircles the lid, detailed carving style around the box banding.  Lid is 8" x 5"; box is 3 1/4" deep $42.95 plus shipping

Western style carved rectangle Russian Birch bark box
29. Mini jewelery box, 3 1/4  long, 1" deep and 2" wide. Very pretty!
   
       

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Comments and Testimonials from our Buyers

....."Thank you for the quick shipping and the attention to detail! We needed several boxes shipped overnight and you emailed us several times with photos  of boxes you didn't yet have on your site to help us make our decision, called us several times even after your store hours to help us get our business concluded and the package shipped on time....we can't thank you enough!".....MaryBeth, New York, NY

......"I've never seen anything like these boxes. They are really delicate and pretty. I wanted something unusual and something that no one in my family had never had as a gift before. It was kind of nice to find something this unusual. Thank you very much. This was nice." ......AllisyonJo Higgens, IL

 

FAQ
Can you ship overnight?
Yes, we can ship by fed-ex express air or UPS  or we can even use USPS. We try to use the service that has the lowest rate when we calculate the rates after we we weigh your package. Please try to catch us before noon MST if you want it to go out on the same day, though.
Do you carry more than one of each box?
On some of the smaller ones we do. But if you are looking to purchase several, please let us know ahead of time so that we can get them for you. They really DO come from Russia! and we have to wait on their shipping schedules. We don't carry more than one of the larger boxes, but often have more than one of the smaller ones on hand.
Are they very fragile?
Actually, they seem pretty sturdy, but as with anything handcrafted, especially anything this unique and beautiful, we still recommend taking good care of it, keeping it away from high heat, and high humidity.
more questions? Email us!
Return Policy
We try our best to give you good descriptions, good
photos and good help if you need it and we're
available by phone (307-532-4642) and by email if you have any questions. But sometimes, something just isn't quite what you thought it would be and we understand that :) If that happens, please return the item with the original receipt. You'll need to send it back with some sort of tracking number in the event that, should the package get lost, it can be tracked. Credit, minus the shipping costs, will be given when we receive the original item in good condition.

Returns can be made within 30 days.

Shipping Policy
We usually ship USPS, and occasionally FedEx or UPS FedEx will carry tracking numbers. If we ship by USPS, we ship by Priority mail and choose delivery confirmation with a tracking number. If you call us to place an order and wish to track your order online, please give us the correct email address, or better yet, email us with your order info (order, name, address, and phone number) so that when your order is shipped, we can inform you of your package(s) shipment. If you wish to have another delivery service for any reason, (rural concerns etc.) or wish to have insurance added to your package, please let us know at the time of the order. If you wish to have something shipped quickly, such as FedEx Express, or USPS air, we can get a total for you before shipping.

Insured-Damaged Items
The postal service, FedEx and UPS can be notorious about letting you claim damages! So keep receipts, the damaged items and the shipping carton and all wrappings the items it came in for future claims.