4"x3" "Birch" played a large part in daily life in old Russia. Birch (bark from the Birch tree) was used as insulation (between layers of clothes), icons (for traveling) and containers (it was said you could keep salted fish in a container for years - rinse it out and drink wine from it). As with most household items the birch boxes were decoratively carved with religious and folk motifs. If you traveled to Russia in Communist times you probably shopped for souvenirs at the "Berizovka" (Birch) shop.