I will never be the sort of dealer who chases pantry boxes and can tell you just where one was made and exactly when, but I do often covet them, and occasionally one calls to me loudly. (Sometimes those loud-callers are gorgeous early painted ones of the most insanely precious variety and I have to ignore the call...but happily I was able to listen to this one!) It dates to the mid 1800s I believe and has accrued a gorgeous patina, but it is the unusual form of the laps, particularly those two little fingers on the body of the box, with gently arching curve (rather than sharp point) between them, that really got and get me. Feels as if the maker was aware of and perhaps aspiring toward the refined elegance of a true Shaker box, but this clearly a much humbler iteration, for me of course feeling both honest and highly empathetic as such, and also very lovely. With square iron nails, nice bleed around them, and in lovely condition inside and out.
8" w x 5 1/4" d x 3 3/4" t. Very good antique condition, with just a very minor bit of loss around the bottom rim of the lid in a couple of spots, as detailed. Very sturdy and sound, lid closes tight, beautiful patina.
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