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From a collection of 19th century boxes in a recent Maine sale, this one looked especially pretty to me.
It's an antique 19th-century bentwood pantry box with a fitted lid and a metal bail handle featuring a wooden grip. Historically this kind of box was used in early American and Shaker households for storing dry goods, sewing supplies, or food rations in the pantry.
It has its original, bare wood surface, beautifully enhanced with the stains from the nails, and a patina from its age and use.
The wire, bail handle is in great shape and well attached.
The box is skillfully built from thin slices of oak wood, steam-bent, and held together with nails -- steel brads used for the lid, and I think the common nails used for the box are copper.
This measures 11.5" across the top and 6.5" high with the lid on.
It weighs 2 lbs. 6.5 oz.
