DUFECK QUALITY ON WOOD 16" W ROUND SHAKER NATURAL WOOD PANTRY BOX HAT BOX

YOU ARE BIDDING ON A DUFECK QUALITY ON WOOD 16" W ROUND SHAKER NATURAL WOOD PANTRY BOX HAT BOX. MEASURES 16" W X 7 1/2" H. CAN BE PAINTED.

MARKED DENMARK, WI QUALITY ON WOOD ON THE BOTTOM. WISCONSIN FACTORY #1710 CLEAR WAX, WHITE WOOD FLAT, WISCONSIN STATE BRAND.

HAS STAPLES FOR CLOSURES.

COLONIAL WOMEN FOUGHT AN ONGOING BATTLE TO KEEP BUGS AND MICE AWAY FROM DRY SAPLES UNTIL THE INTRODUCTION OF COVERED STONEWARE CROCKS AND WOOD PANTRY BOXES. AMERICAN FACTORIES BEGAN PRODUCING THE LATTER IN THE LATE 18TH CENTURY. SOME WERE SIMPLY VARNISHED, BUT MANY WERE PAINTED IN PRETTY COLORS THAT BRIGHTENED DARK KEEPING ROOMS WHEN STACKED FLOOR TO CEILING.

THE SHAKERS FINISHED THEIR IMMACULATELY CONSTRUCTED BOXES IN CHEERFUL HUES, EACH WITH A SNUG-FITTING LID. SHAKER CRAFTED BOXES FEATURE POINTED FINGER JOINTS-WHICH WOULD NOT SHRINK OR BUCKLE WITH CHANGES IN HUMIDITY-ALWAYS POINTED IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS THE LAPS ON THE BOX LID. EARLY EXAMPLES USED COPPER TACKS; LATER SHAKER BOXES HAD STRAIGHT-CUT LAPS THAT WERE MACHINE-CLEATED.

TYPICALLY, PANTRY BOXES WERE ISSUED IN NESTING SETS OF GRADUATED SIZES. THE LARGEST WAS IDEAL FOR STORING WHEELS OF CHEESE OR SLABS OF BUTTER; THE SMALLEST FOR SPICES.

EXPECT TO FIND OVAL BOXES PRICED HIGHER THAN ROUND BOXES AND PAINTED BOXES MORE EXPENSIVE THAN UNPAINTED ONES. BUT BIGGEST IS NOT ALWAYS THE BEST; THE RARITY OF MINIATURE MODELS MAKESTHEM THE COSTLIEST.