19th Century Antique - Shaker Pantry Box - Small 5\" Oval - Maple or Cherry Wood For Sale

This is a beautiful old 19th century Americana piece with great character -- and handmade, of course. The bentwood bands are made of maple or cherry and the flat top and bottom panels show the softer, wider grain that\'s characteristic of old-growth pine.It has copper tacks securing the opposing \"swallowtail\" fingers on the bentwood bands, and square-headed, copper pegs pinning the top and bottom ovals, all firmly in place.The handwritten numbers and markings on the underside of the lid add to its historic charm. The graphite pencil style, numbering format, and natural wood oxidation are perfectly consistent with turn-of-the-century general store utility items.At that time, bulk dry goods—like spices, flour, coffee, or tobacco—were shipped in large barrels, and then divided down into smaller pantry boxes on store shelves. Merchants routinely penciled changing inventory counts, cost codes, or weight distributions directly onto the raw wood inside the lids.The interior shows classic dark staining and spotting from its historical use in a pantry.Measures with lid on: 5 inches long, 4 inches wide, 2 inches tall.
Weighs 2.5 ounces