Волшебная шкатулка

14:47 Oct 6, 2017
This question was closed without grading. Reason: Answer found elsewhere

Russian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / translation of a fantastic novel
Russian term or phrase: Волшебная шкатулка
How to translate "Волшебная шкатулка" or just "шкатулка"? It contains some magic things but not jewelry or precious stones. So, should it be called a "chest" or "jewel-box" or perhaps something else? I don`t want to call it just a "box".

Thanks in advance!
Zhanna Rohalska
United States
Local time: 05:50


Summary of answers provided
4 +2Magic casket
Mikhail Kropotov
4magic bin
Vladimir Dubisskiy
3enchanted/magic pyxis
Frank Szmulowicz, Ph. D.
3magic coffret
Andrew Vdovin


Discussion entries: 9





  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
Magic casket


Explanation:
The Magic Casket by R. Austin Freeman - Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5453886-the-magic-casket

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Note added at 5 mins (2017-10-06 14:52:35 GMT)
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I know 'casket' usually means 'coffin' in contemporary US English. Still, it could work if your novel is set in an older period where casket still had its original meaning of 'box.'

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Note added at 6 mins (2017-10-06 14:53:21 GMT)
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casket
/ˈkɑːskɪt/
noun

a small ornamental box or chest for holding jewels, letters, or other valued objects.
"a small brass casket containing four black opals"
synonyms: box, chest, case, container, receptacle, coffer, trunk, crate; rarepyxis
"a small casket containing four black opals"

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Note added at 8 mins (2017-10-06 14:56:00 GMT)
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'Precious box' may be an option if you don't want to mention jewelry specifically.

Mikhail Kropotov
Germany
Local time: 10:50
Works in field
Native speaker of: Russian
PRO pts in category: 376

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jack Doughty: It still means that inUK English.
6 mins
  -> Thanks, Jack!

agree  Alexander Grabowski
18 mins
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21 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
enchanted/magic pyxis


Explanation:
Very magical.

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A pyxis (πυξίς, plural pyxides) is a shape of vessel from the classical world, usually a cylindrical box with a separate lid. Originally mostly used by women to hold cosmetics, trinkets or jewellery, surviving pyxides are mostly Greek pottery, but especially in later periods may be in wood, metal, ivory, or other materials. The name derived from Corinthian boxes made of wood from the tree puksos (boxwood), that also came with covers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyxis_(vessel)

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1. (Historical Terms) a small box used by the ancient Greeks and Romans to hold medicines, etc
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/pyxis

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Note added at 2 hrs (2017-10-06 17:10:19 GMT)
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Doesn't this look like a magical vessel?
https://www.ancient.eu/img/r/p/750x750/3534.jpg?v=1485681234
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/Py...

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шкатулка
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTOaZbJ...
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRpM4NU...
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTE7c_E...
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQv8zAQ...

Frank Szmulowicz, Ph. D.
United States
Local time: 05:50
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in PolishPolish
PRO pts in category: 97

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Mikhail Kropotov: I researched this word and found that a pyxis is usually a round, vase-like container. This really jars (pun intended) with the image of шкатулка, which is box-shaped. Also, шкатулка (in Russian) is not a piece of pottery.
1 hr
  -> It is more about magic than the shape. It is even more magical if indeed round. шкатулка can be round, even heart-shaped.
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10 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
magic bin


Explanation:
A guess

Vladimir Dubisskiy
United States
Local time: 04:50
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian, Native in UkrainianUkrainian
PRO pts in category: 36

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  The Misha: Why not a bucket then? Or a crate?
13 hrs
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1 day 20 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
magic coffret


Explanation:
A coffret, or cofferet, is a small chest.

Andrew Vdovin
Local time: 16:50
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in category: 88
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