Historic Americana
Handcrafted and Hand-Painted Bentwood Bride's Box
Early 19th Century "Folk Art" Style, Handcrafted & Hand-Painted Bentwood Bride's Box, Very Fine.
A lovely oval shaped Bride's Box measuring 6.75" wide x 17.5" long, made of thin, soft wood (probably pine) with a separate cover portion that slips over the lower box. It is aptly named "Bentwood" because the box maker would use water to soften and shape the wood into an oblong box. Extensively Hand-painted on all sides except for the unseen bottom, in reds, blues, black and whites. Typical wear and tear, imperfections, or the effects of aging some middle seam separation restored. The top cover features a large painted Bride and Groom arm in arm surrounded by white bunting. Its side panels feature a lovely variety of colorful, hand-painted, random appropriate flourish decorations.
This box was assembled without glue or fasteners; rather, the wood is literally stitched together with thin rattan strips. These types of Bride boxes were very popular in the 18th and early part of the 19th century, used by brides to carry and house their personal items. Typically, husbands used to purchase these for their wives on their wedding day to use to store treasures or wedding memories in. A nice display piece, especially for Folk Art collectors.