Material:  Solid Oak

Size:  Length ~ 10 inches, Width ~ 6 inches, Height~ 6 & 1/4 inches

Quantity:  1

A very interesting antique oak box or casket, likely intended for valuables, jewelry, documents or possibly tea storage, formed of solid, carved single boards, with what I believe is called dovetail construction.
Both the front and back of the box, as well as both of the sides are carved in the French Bombe manner, with a thicker, rounded, curved, or bowed section near the middle, tapering in at top and base.
Each board  or plank is very thick.  The lift off top for example, is a solid piece of oak, measuring apx. 1 & 1/16 thick and I believe that each of the four boards comprising the body measure about the same. Subsequently this is one solid, substantial box, weighing apx. 4 pounds!
Four matching feet, carved in the curved, rounded shape of the box corners, elevate the box.  The feet are attached at base with old round head nails.  The nails and surrounding wood appear very black, which I understand results from the corrosiveness of the nail iron content to the wood and apparently takes a very long time to form.  I discovered that this type of nail first appeared apx. 1880 - 90 and we believe it likely the box dates to this time frame, or shortly thereafter, c. 1880 - 1900.
Box front features a hand carved decoration; a ribbon over a heart and the name ~ Jean
Box top, or lid, features a similar hand carved ribbon decoration reading:  Le Havre.
Le Havre is a port town in France, located on the Normandy coast of the English channel.  Possibly Jean lived in Le Havre, or this was his/her surname.  I wish I knew, but it remains a mystery.
The box is in very nice antique estate condition.  I believe it is oak, or similar hard wood with beautiful grain, and the finish is a warm golden color.  There is some lighter natural graining visible on the box front, as well as the back.  Maybe this is referred to as Tiger Oak, not sure.   We see no breaks, cracks, etc, just a small, and in our opinion, quite inconsequential nick to back left edge of lid.
A beautiful antique chest, casket or caddy, surely handmade by a very talented master craftsman, cabinet maker, woodworker or carver, and likely one of a kind.

PLEASE NOTE:  For some reason the image of box bottom came out much lighter than actual.  True color of box bottom closes matches the rest of the box.

Interesting Handmade Antique French Bombe Box, Casket, Chest, Caddy ~ Jewelry, Valuables, Documents ~ Jean La Havre, France

$ 229.00