RUSSIAN CHEST AS A HISTORICAL SOURCE
The history of Russian chest production has hundreds of years. For centuries, the chest has played an important role in the cultural and economic life of Russia. It acquired over time the value of a valuable historical source. However, it has not yet been analyzed in the scientific literature from this side. This paper aims to fill this gap. The author singled out three of main aspects: inscriptions and stamps on chests and caskets; international relations in the area of culture and economy; evolution of tools and technologies. All of them are examined on specific examples. The items from the collection of the Russian Museum and other domestic and foreign museums were involved. The author concluded that the Russian chest as a source is of undoubted value for historical science. This feature of chest is worthy of futher study.