The way it was made, as well as decorations on it, are typical of the Adriatic region. The sides were made out of single pieces of wood, put together by means of grooves. The chest-box has a flat cover and short legs, shaped as lion's paws. The front has been richly carved. The carvings are coloured by oil paint. It is decorated by stylized plant, animal, and geometrical motifs. Some boxes, such as this particular one, have painted cover interiors with mirrors (which is missing here).
Chest-boxes were an inevitable part of the brides' dowries in all parts of Croatia. As the oldest part of furniture, chest-boxes feature in all bride's dowry or house inventory lists. Brides used them to carry their wardrobe into their new homes. Chest-boxes were solemnly carried by selected members of the wedding party, or equally solemnly transported to the bridegroom's home. Richer families usually owned several such chest-boxes.
