A Present from L. Hine, Age 82, to Mrs. Charity Kelsey, in 1863, Very Tender Carved Pine Slide Lid Box

The great charms of this one are a bit subtle, but it's one of my favorite recent finds. Carved into the sides of the hand-carved slide lid box--on one side right side up, on the other upside down--is the following: A Present from L. Hine to Mrs./ Charity Kelsey and BrotheR [the R at the end of the next line] / My age is 82 y Born Oc 5 1781." Which would mean the box was carved in 1863. And with a nice detail of deeper carving at the spot where he carved in the year of his birth, as if he had to re-carve it to get it right. Quite a sweet, very heartfelt gift from our L. Hine to Charity and her brother--and quite a wonderful thing to have made at the age of 82! I presume made to serve as a candle box, to help light up their lives! So tenderly lovely.

12" x 4 1/2" x 1 7/8". Good antique condition, with just a little darkening to the surface/possible little bit of water damage to the far left corner on the "A Present" side. Slide lid glides smoothly and closes tight.