Images(8)

Box

Date1820-1850

OriginAmerica, New York (probably)

MediumTinned sheet iron; iron wire; asphaltum (by eye); paint (tole)

Dimensions4 7/8" x 8" x 4" (12.4 cm. x 20.3 cm. x 10.2 cm.)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1976.808.1

DescriptionDome-lid document or deed box with semi- circular handle on top, lid hinged in back. Background black with red, yellow, and green decoration (some of the red flowers have overstrokes of lighter red or whitened red, also). On top of the lid, radiating from the handle, is a yellow design similar to a sun- burst (but with oval, not round, center to follow the handle base). The vertical front and side edges of the lid are decorated with an unlinked chain of comma-like designs with dots in the curve of each comma, all in yellow. The sides of the main body of the box also exhibit this same decoration. The back is not decorated. The front is decorated with a large spray of flowers, open red "roses" and buds with green and yellow foliage (some lines of the green foliage are picked out in yellow, other whole leaves are yellow). The red flowers are overstroked with a paler red, or white mixed with red. There is a scroll-ended latch on the front of the lid into which is cut a rectangular opening to receive the protruding open rectangle of tin (through which a lock could be inserted). Upper edges of the box body and lower edges of the lid are rolled over wire, visible at the corners. There is a yellow stripe at the bottom of each side, in addition to previously described decoration.
Label TextTinplate boxes having rounded lids are popularly called "document boxes," although they undoubtedly held a variety of trinkets and small valuables. The stylized leaf and dot borders on the lid and sides of this box, use of red, green, white, and yellow, and the six petaled-flowers balanced with long, flowing leaves resemble tinware decoration on pieces attributed to the Filley and Butler families of Lansingburgh and Greenville, New York.

ProvenanceMrs. Richard Bury, Morrisville, N.Y.