Rare 19th C. Tole Painted Document Safe Box in Blue

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Rare 19th C. Artisan Tole Painted Document Box - in Blue with elaborate Floral Detailing.

9.25" wide by 6" tall … Read more Rare 19th C. Artisan Tole Painted Document Box - in Blue with elaborate Floral Detailing.

9.25" wide by 6" tall by 5.25" deep.

Integrated handle on top, with strong hinges and seams around perimeter of the top.

Handsome gold border around much of the perimeter, embellished by tole florals in red, white yellow and several ashes of blue.

Showing even patina, but still presents as bright, crisp and entirely original.

Unlined tin inside - showing patina but clean and immediately serviceable in daily life for documents, curios, jewelry, cosmetics, recipes, soaps, etc.

Likely England - maybe France - but perfect for any American aesthetic of the 19th or 20th Century.

Most tole finished document boxes like this one were traditional flat black with red, gold, and maybe green line detailing. To find a deep blue, with bright floral features, is a nice find indeed.

In keeping with Aesop's fable, Fox and Crow's Motto is "Beware of False Flattery!" So, with each listing we offer a true confession about the item...

Blue. When every other one you've ever seen is flat-finished black and speaks to Shaker simplicity, a vivid blue one appears and changes the narrative.

My husband loves boxes and trunks and vessels of every kind, so it was no surprise that he saw this...but when. I noticed it was blue...well, even I was on board.

Our cottages are English cottage eclectic - bright paint colors, stacks of paintings, fabrics everywhere...layer upon layer of worthwhile things we love. This box manages to blend in perfectly! It will in your home, too. See less