18th Century
COLONIAL AMERICAN
"BIBLE BOX"
IN BLUE PAINT    

New England, (originally found in Gloucester, Mass), ca. 1730-1780.

Classic example with all the desirable features of a special early box, including huge dovetails, rosehead nails, bold thumbnail and base moldings, rams-horn snipe hinges, batons under the lid sides, heavy stock white pine, and in a scarce dry soft blue paint. Structurally superb condition, straight and solid and true, with original hinges and lock, with just an inconsequential split in the bottom board. Perfectly proportioned, about 25 inches wide x 15 deep x 10 tall.

Provenance includes Stephen Score, Sam Forsythe, exceptional private collection. Although generically this form is known as a bible box, it even more likely that it held the most valuable pieces in a Colonial American home, i.e., textiles.