Oval box

1800-1875

Measurements

4 in x 10-5/8 in x 7-3/8 in

Materials

White pine (top and bottom), maple (sides)

Credit Line

Historic Odessa Foundation, gift of H. Rodney Sharp

Accession Number

1959.3736

Provenance

Ex coll. H. Rodney Sharp

Comments

The "three-fingered" lidded box is made with a thin piece of maple bent around a thicker white pine piece of wood and attached with small iron nails, called sprigs.  Copper rivets hold the overlapping fingers in place.  The lid is made in the same fashion.  No evidence of other paint below the present green paint has been detected.

Boxes of this type were made by Shakers and likely others, since these containers were useful for all sorts of purposes.