Dowry chest from the Mari El Republic

Among the Finno-Ugric peoples, the wedding was, and still is in some places, a series of events consisting of multiple stages and lasting several days, towards the end of which the bride moves from her childhood home to her husband’s house. The property of the young wife moves from house to house in a dowry chest. This chest with painted decorations was purchased in the village of Tshavainur in the Mari El Republic in 2002.

SU6091:1. Photo: Markku Haverinen, 2013.