I once again step outside of my regular milieu by picking up a small wooden box ( to add to my collection.  In truth, I do consider this little box to be a piece of art due to what has been done to it.

The #chipcarved English oak box (possibly Welsh made) is my latest acquisition. I do not0 have great knowledge in regard to this type of art/furniture, so speculation is required on my part. After researching boxes like this, I have come to the conclusion that it was created in the 17th/18th centuries. The lock is not original, neither are the hinges, and a person has added 6 screws on the base to hold the sides. I do not believe this box had a lock at all, and there were certainly no screws.

The carving on this box is wonderful because oak is quite a fine-grained hard wood and not easily carved. Geometric shapes or roundels decorate this box.

The #dovetail corners are in excellent shape, the chamfered edges to top and bottom nicely planed.

The lid is decorated with a border, a rhombus/diamond shape with central and surrounding leaf motif – possibly being oak. I thought the back panel was just plain – and looks so – but under close inspection, the design for four roundels can be seen ever so lightly scribed into the wood. It was just never carved. The box was possibly meant to hold documents/keepsakes, but I do know from smelling the interior that at some time, a gentleman has kept tobacco in this box. The measurements of the box are externally 32.5cm x 14.5cm x 12cm or 12 7/8″  x 5 3/4″ x 4 3/4″ – internally 28cm x 9cm x 9cm or 11″ x 3 1/2″ x 3 1/2″. A fascinating item to have picked up.