I purchased this in Pennsylvania, from a dealer specializing in 19th century stoneware bottles and crocks but from whom I've purchased a few other sorts of treasures. What really sold me was the beautiful hand-painted gold lettering on the spice boxes in that best font. Only later did I discover that those boxes were still full of spices, a happy surprise! The cloves box is clearly filled with cloves indeed, but I'm not entirely sure what mix of dried herbs and flowers it is in the others--but they smell good! C. 1880s, with a locking latch on the front of the box--spices were once very precious things!
9 1/2" x 6 1/2" x 3 7/8" tall not including brass handle. One interior tin missing as evident, with paint loss particularly to the lettering on the Nutmeg tin, and rusting to the bottoms of the tins/interior bottom of the box. It seems possible the exterior of the box was repainted at some point. Structurally in great condition--and the spices inside smell delicious!
