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ANTIQUE 19TH CENTURY SPRUCE GUM BOX — MAINE NORTH WOODS FOLK ART
AWESOME DESIGN AND. Craftsmanship! Free of any problems!
Offered is a wonderful antique hand-carved spruce gum box in an unusual book-shaped form, dating to approximately the late 19th or very early 20th century.
This is a genuine piece of North Woods / Maine folk art associated with the historic spruce-gum and lumbering culture of northern New England.
What makes this example particularly special is its unusual form, extensive hand carving, hand inlays with original wood stain, primitive construction, and exceptional completeness. Early wood dies, were used, probably of natural origins in order to create the red and green colors on the in lays.
A UNIQUE PIECE OF NORTH WOODS HISTORY
Spruce gum boxes were made by woodsmen, lumberjacks and other workers of the northern forests during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Spruce resin was collected from spruce trees and was traditionally chewed as “spruce gum” long before modern chewing gum became widespread.
These containers were made as personal possessions or gifts while men were spending extended periods working in remote logging camps.
Many surviving examples are rectangular and designed to resemble books, which is why they are commonly called “spruce gum books”.
The maker appears to have created this piece using traditional hand tools, with extensive chip carving and geometric decoration covering the exterior.
BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL DECORATION
The front features an elaborate arrangement of:
* Hand-carved geometric borders
* Repeated chip-carved triangular patterns
* Hearts and other Christian symbolic motifs
* Diamond-shaped decorative elements
* Cross/arrow-like geometric designs
* Contrasting darkened carved details
* Raised decorative bands around the carved “book end”
The decoration has tremendous primitive folk-art character and shows the individuality of the person who made it.
The heart motif is particularly appropriate to this tradition, as decorated spruce gum containers were sometimes made as gifts for loved ones back home.
ORIGINAL SLIDING LID
The box retains its original sliding wooden lid, which is complete and functional.
The interior is hollowed out in the traditional manner, and the construction is consistent with the handmade spruce gum containers associated with the North Woods lumbering tradition.
CONDITION
Very good original antique condition.
The box is complete and has no major damage, missing components, or replaced lid that I can see. It retains its original primitive surface, carving and construction. Overall, in excellent collector condition.
Please examine all photographs carefully. There are expected signs of age, handling and use consistent with an antique handmade folk-art object.
No restoration or modern alterations are being represented.
AGE
I believe this piece dates to approximately c. 1880–1910, although an exact date cannot be established from the object alone.
The broader spruce-gum box tradition dates from the mid-19th century into the early 20th century, with examples associated with Maine and the northern New England/Canadian lumbering regions.
WHY THIS EXAMPLE IS SPECIAL
There are antique spruce gum boxes on the market, but this example has several characteristics that make it particularly desirable to a collector:
• Unusual book-shaped form and perfect size
• Extensive hand-carved decoration
• Exceptional primitive folk-art character
• Original sliding lid
• Complete example
• No major damage or missing pieces
• Strong Maine/North Woods lumber-camp association
• Wonderful original aged surface
This would make an excellent addition to a collection of Maine folk art, American primitive art, logging/lumber camp memorabilia, early Americana, antique wooden boxes, occupational folk art, or North Woods artifacts.
IMPORTANT NOTE
Please look carefully at all photographs, as they are an important part of the description.
A truly unusual and wonderfully preserved piece of early American North Woods folk art.
