Antique safe made by Franz Karlovich San Galli (1824-1908). Metal. Russia, the 19th century. This is the same famous engineer of German -Italian origin, who, more than 150 years ago in Russia, invented a cast-iron radiator (battery). An idealist and, at the same time, a man of extraordinary intelligence, character and drive, who possessed the qualities of a true entrepreneur, achieved every goal he set. Franz moved to Russia in 1842 from Germany in Saint Petersburg. Life did not spoil the young inventor, but he did not give up, and very soon achieved success. His first order was to repair the heating system in Tsarskoye Selo. Franz Karlovich successfully married and converted to Orthodoxy, founded his own production. At the age of 28, he opened his own company on Ligovsky Prospekt. He became the first in the field of building engineering equipment, and devoted a lot of time to developing and expanding the range of products offered by his company. In addition to radiators, disinfection devices, ventilation systems, mechanical washbasins appeared, to which safes and artistic casting were added. Franz Karlovich San Galli's company cast the grating of the Winter Palace gates, cast fences, benches and sculptures. I must say that the latrines appeared in St. Petersburg thanks to San Galli, made in the manner of Western ones. This company has grown into a foundry in the very center of St. Petersburg. "No rush and no rest" - this motto united more than 800 professionals who worked together with San Galli.  Safes are an irreplaceable thing, especially safes with a double-headed eagle emblem of gratitude, presented by the Imperial House of F.K. San Galli, the quality of such safes was legendary. San Galli valued his reputation, and it was justified: his safes were considered complex and unopenable. Along with permission to put the emblem on the safe, San Galli was also granted a noble title, the rank of state councilor (rank of general).