A second spruce gum box this week, purchased from the same dealer as one listed and sold last week, found in Tennessee but likely Maine in origin, c. early 20th century. You know I love a folk art box, and a book shaped anything, and love tokens of all sorts, and hand-drawn graphite decoration too, here happily all rolled into one, with hearts and spades and diamonds and circles and chip carved decoration to boot. Plus nicely carved detailing on the spine and its original thick, very snugly fitting slide lid.
Associated with logging and lumbering activities, spruce gum boxes, also known as gum books, were usually carved out from a solid piece of wood, as this one was, with a sliding opening at bottom. Just as sailors made shell valentines and baskets and carvings, these were made by lumberman as gifts for loved ones, most dating from 1850-1920, after which improved transportation allowed them to return home more frequently. Spruce gum, which comes from sap that is hardened into resin, became quite an industry, with Maine the largest and probably first producer of gum with nearly two dozen companies emerging between 1848-1910.
4 7/8 x x 3 x 1 3/4 and in excellent condition.
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