Old wooden Pyramid shaped box |
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Posted 12 years ago
cory2605
(23 items)
My friend just gave me this box which she purchased several years ago at a garage sale. She just liked the box and doesn't know anything about it. It's shaped sort of like a pyramid. It appears to be handmade as the wood is not completely even but that might be from wear over time. The hardware looks old as well. There are small flat head screws on the hinges. I'm not sure of the type of wood but a greenish tint is showing through in areas.
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Cool box, looks like mahogany possibly.
Old by the looks of the hand forged handle.
Thanks walksoftly, I didn't know it was hand forged so that helps. I'll research when flathead screws were first used.
Do you see any nail heads?
If so what shape are they?
They are rounded, but not perfectly like the nails you see today. My husband said they look 'hand cut'?
Walksoftly is on the right track. Maybe it was for carrying pyramids? LOL . Well, I knew a remark like that was expected form me. The handle does appear hand-wrought. Maybe for something like early surveying instruments?
What a unique and wonderful box ! love it
I believe they started using screws around the end of the 1700's. The early ones often had offset centers and flat bottoms. The ridges on them were not even either. You will find some good examples in your research to compare. Great old box, curious as to its purpose -- perhaps a religious background or some lodge order of some type? Be great if someone could fill us in.... The handles look really old.
Link to types of nails & era used
http://www.uvm.edu/histpres/203/nails.html
this is a hat-box, for a particular type of hat - forgot what type - maybe a tricorn?
A hat makes sense as there are no marks on on the floor of the box from something heavy.
Thanks ho2cultcha, I would have never thought of that. I appreciate all the info and help. Thanks for the link, walksoftly, great way to date things I find in the future!!!!
I have this same box - I found it today - exactly like yours - it looks very old and I can not find out what it was used for - I do not think it is hat box -
I too just purchased a pyramid shaped box which looks oks exactly like the one
posted by Cory 2605, only mine has a metal stamp that says Laid by Seastrum & Co. 1902 20 Maple St. Chicago. It also has green tint on the wood in spots.
Cylines --- what do you think these boxes are used for ? -- are they real old ?
mine looks like oak or walnut but does not have a green tint - no stamp only 3 hand written initials like it was being customized - Ireally love it ! will let you knwo if i can do soem more reseach and see wast these shaped boxes were for and when they were made --
Valentino97 -- maybe so, but it has a place for a lock so has to be something valuable that some one would want locked --
Thank you everybody for helping with this mystery. I tried researching the Seastrum & Co. Cylines spoke of and all I came up with is an old cement company but that was spelled SEASTROM. It wasn't out of Chicago, tho, it was out of California. Could this have been a mason's tool box or salesman box of some sort?
Cory2605-- I wrote to a professor at Clemson University who is in the historic properties dept.-- he did not know either -- said it may be a box for some type of craftsman or surveyor someone who traveled about with equipment or tools that he had to lock up - it really is a mystery -lets don't give up - 3 of us on here have the box so maybe we will find out ------
I got the same results when researching Seastrum. My husband seams to think tthe metal stamp may not be original to the box. I do think it is walnut.
I can't speak to the actual origin or age of this box but it is crafted in the style of a nettoor petti which is a traditional jewelry box from the Kerala region of India. They are often much more ornate than this example with quite a bit of brass work, but I have seen very simple ones with iron metalwork similar to this example.
I hope that this is helpful to you.
Mamabog or Cylines, did you ever discover what your boxes were? I still haven't!
I have one of these as well. Have been hanging on to it for about 20 years this is the first time ive looked it up. I found http://www.antiques.com/classified/Decorative-Interior/Antique-Boxes---Caddies/Antique-Indian-rosewood-19th-c-dowry-box-from-Malabar---Item---7415#..
my box has forged nails not screws and seems older than these. It seems as if its a dowry box
Dooledork - a friend of mine from India said it looked like a dowry box to him but I am not sure they had them in this country --- and the ones in India are usually more ornamental ---- mine has initals in top of lid -personalized - i am fascinated with it because no one really knows what it was used for - I have asked several antique dealers --they are do not know .
cory2605 -i am still asking around because i really want to know what these boxes were used for -you would think antique dealers would know but they do not - will keep checking round til this mystery is solved ---
Hello- I just picked up one of these today at a junk store. It looks IDENTICAL, down to the exact same green marks on the wood. Any one have any luck figuring out what this is?? I am so surprised that there seem to be multiples of this item around and yet no information of any kind. Would love more info! Thanks!
Odessac- it is the strangest thing -several of us have found these but no one can figure out what they were used for . They look very old to me and inside my lid someone has personalized it with their initials - I have asked everyone I know even a member of a historical society. Still no answer
I have seen these boxes many, many years ago before computers and almost before TV. Back when people read magazines the magazines like National Geographic, Look and Life were all putting out news and pictures of the pyramids. Craftsmen got in on it by making replicas of what was in the news. Pyramid treasure boxes were among the items as well as sarcophagus shaped jewelry boxes. They even made a pyramid shaped ashtray that was hinged to open. The pyramid fad didn't last long and people went on to other things.
Your hinges have been replaced so that may account for them having screws.
Ffhrjr2--- thanks for your input-- yes I know there was a time everyone was making pyramid style things but these wooden boxes look much older - the one pictured is actually not mine - mine does not have the screws to attach hinges - and when I found it it had a touch of green but I cleaned it and used old English Polish to make it more attractive -I can only think the green is from age - still searching to see what thus box was used for -
I ran off a pic earlier & going to ask some of my ole seadog friends as I think it may be nautical.
Blunderbuss2-- thanks - it could be ---I feel it was some type of workman's case and it has a lock but is a heavy box and if loaded down ,would be difficult to carry around
Not fer nuttin ! Obvusly. !?
But the first thing that popped into my head was, (and I wish I had one for mine ! Cuz it makes a lot of sense)! I also agree it's for a well made stain glass shade and I've seen this particular shape specifically designed for Billiard Tables. But that's just my logical intuition !? Can't imagine anything else
Well, I showed it to some of the old salts here. That's the good news. bad news is, I should have caught them earlier before they had gotten into drinking. After 1/4 hr. of jokes, the opinion was that it is not naval as it wouldn't stack with that top. I'll ck others (earlier in the day).
What was the problem with Doodledork's answer #23? Not every family can afford a rosewood dowry box. I've had to pay several dowries to give away girlfriends & never included a box! (Well, not wooden)
blunderbuss2- thanks for checking around - I know the dowry box was the custom in foreign countries and expected , but not sure about America- this box looks post civil war or even colonial -- I will check dowry boxes in American Traditions - I won't give up - this mystery will be solved --
Well mama, there have been 2 posted & I am sure I have seen one in my past. With 2 confirmed & 1 probable, surely somebody can come up with an answer if we are ignoring Doodledorks answer. Why are we doing than anyway? Sure looks like an identical match to me. Hey Doodle, are you following this?
Okay Blunder - I agree it does look like the Indian dowry --box but what is it doing in America unless it was from an Indian family or Pier one Imports lol
Mama, I can't think of anyplace that E. Indians haven't infiltrated decades or centuries ago. Hope my use of "infiltrated" wasn't taken as a racial slur. Can't be too careful these days on CW or anywhere, for that matter!
I agree that the shape is the same as the dowry boxes, but these are so plain, I am having a hard time believing that they really are dowry boxes. But maybe....
Blunder - true -however I actually found my box inside the door of the garbage shoot at my apt complex- a small complex which has no Indian families - someone in this building was throwing it away -I just got lucky -but then ,if these are Indian dowry boxes do they not have sentimental value to that family and would they give them away ?
Odessac - I agree they are much too plain and so undecorated -they seem to be a utility type box - they are not attractive enough to even be a jewelry box or any type of document box that anyone would want on display in their homes
Maybe she kicked him out. Got some more old salts who know old stuff, so maybe we can eliminate that angle.
I've carried a pic of this for days asking sailor friend & guess we can eliminate nautical. Most say if it was for nautical, the fittings would be brass. Well, I tried.
Blunder - thanks for trying - this mystery may never be solved.
Still trying to figure out why Doodle's answer isn't accepted?
Still looking for another box like this and it's purpose -and I saw one on tv recently on the new show. Texas Rising --it was 1836 --Sana Anna while taking over Texas had one very similar on his table in his tent -the seams were covered in a decorative metal but it was a wooden pyramid box - still do not know what he used it for -it only showed it in background but they had them in the. 1800's --
http://www.hasteningantiques.com/accessories/18th-century-brass-mounted-and-lacquered-marriage-dowry-box/
T A
Tube amp- that is really beautiful -looked like the one on tv on table in tent with brass seams. But I wonder why a butcher like Sana Anna would have a dowry box unless it was just a setting piece for movie - strange- usually dowry boxes from India are much more ornate than the plain box I and others on this site have. Very plain
When it comes to antiques from Indian, Indonesia, China, et al: Beware the man who owns an antique wooden furniture store in the front AND a wooden furniture factory in the back.
T A
Yes many reporductions- I trust nothing as being authentic made in other countries
I guess these wooden boxes will remain a mystery but I love it anyway
Now we are beginning to believe in the knowledge & expertise of movie set designers. Talk about grasping for straws! Doodle had it with #22. Not every Indian could afford expensively ornate dowry boxes. Hell, I just gave a girl I kicked out a cigar box with some of her crap in it to pass on to her next victim! If it shows up on CW, I'm sure it will be immediately identified as a cigar box & not include it's history as I didn't seem motivated to decorate it at the time. Still don't & had to move & change my phone number!
I just bought a box exactly like this at a garage sale. I can take photos if needed but it pretty much looks exactly like this one - green tinting and all. I love the box either way but it would be neat to find out where it came from.
Doodle had it but nobody wants to accept it! Why, I don't know? I'm off the thread as it is getting ridiculous now.
Hello all...was searching & just found these posts. I have 2 sizes of these "mystery boxes" listed on ebay right now & saw another like the small size also listed. (evergreenfarmantiques) Last year, someone had a larger size than my 2 listed (it was sold). I contacted other sellers - no more info . You can see how I have them described - also have asked in my listing for input. They are so precisely made with a lip closure - obviously to carry something that needs to stay clean. I agree with most of the posts. Interesting that no one knows the origin or use. I know there are (at least) 3 sizes & they fit inside each other. The handle, latches, etc. all look hand forged but are very precise. ??? Were they possibly made for a specific purpose & not used for that??? They are sturdy, well made, & neat looking! ???
Found a sold one, said beeing from India, Kerala state:
http://www.narreo.fr/catalogue/boites-coffrets-ecritoires/boite-a-bijoux-pyramidale-ag-256.html
Kyrantango - that is similar but not the same -the one you found looks like a tea keeper with the partitions -
Granitewarenmore - I saw yours on eBay and exactly like the one I have - Identical
One day we may find out - I do love the box -it is so unique -
https://www.keralatourism.org/native-technology/nettur-petti-souvneir/2
I checked the links to the boxes from India. Yes, they are definitely the same shape. The boxes I have, the ones shown here, and ones on ebay are exactly alike, down to the iron handle & latch & type & coloring of the wood. Makes me wonder if the Indian boxes inspired the maker of these, or if they were an earlier version, or made to later be decorated...??? I still think they were all for something in particular. ???? gosh, this is my 1st ever posting on here (or the like)...now I'll need to follow periodically. Thanks everyone.
Was just doing some other research and came across one of these on an auction site, they referred to it as a "Malabar Box" -- don't know what it means, but hope it helps in your research!
My Favorite Treasures --Yes , a Malabar box is an Indian Dowry box - all of them seem to be so ornate - have not seen a plain one -
Still not sure this wooden box is the same although same shape
I have long had a so-called Malabar dowry box, one of the ornate ones, and my guess is that this is Indian too, simply from the shape of the top handle as well are the box shape. The fancy ones are known as dowry boxes, basically jewelry boxes. For wealthier sorts. They may have come plain too, for poorer sorts. And they may also have been made for other uses. As for getting to the U.S., well the Brits were all over India for a long time, and people picked up stuff and toted it around. These plain ones may well have been used as carrying cases for smaller stuff.