Size #5 Shaker Oval Box, 1853 Antique Paper Lined, Sponge Painted Finish

This size #5 antique newspaper lined Shaker oval box in a sponge painted finish is 10" Long by 7" Wide by 4" Tall

This box is lined with an authentic 19th-century newspaper — a page from Gleason's Pictorial Drawing-Room Companion, Boston, December 10, 1853. The lid carries a street view of Roxbury, Massachusetts, and the inside holds a Boston harbor scene above a column on the December cloak fashions of the day. These papers were carefully sourced from antique shops in Maine, chosen from damaged or incomplete sections that held no standalone collectible value. By repurposing them, I preserve a small piece of history while giving new life to materials that might otherwise be lost.

The finish is something a little different — a hand-sponged paint, worked in layers so a darker ground shows through the color above it. It gives the box a mottled depth and a soft, aged look, in the spirit of the decorated painted ware of the 19th century.

Due to the age of the newspaper, you may notice natural imperfections such as minor water stains, color variations, small rips (glued down to prevent further damage), or pinholes. These are part of the character of the piece. The paper is sealed with a protective coating so it stands up to regular use while keeping its historical charm.

A versatile box, well suited to jewelry, loose change, keepsakes, and small kitchen or sewing supplies.

Construction:

• Materials: The sides are maple and the top and bottom boards quartersawn pine. All lumber is milled in my shop here in Embden, Maine.
• Hand-Cut Joints: Each swallowtail joint is cut by hand, so every piece is unique.
• Fasteners: The band and boards are secured with copper tacks made on original 19th-century machines, darkened so they settle into the finish rather than stand out.
• Finish: This sponge-painted piece receives two coats of a high-quality tung oil finish, which protects the box and only improves with age.

Since 1993, LeHay's Shaker Boxes has been making boxes and carriers in the Shaker tradition. While mass-produced, machine-made items have replaced many traditional products, nothing can replace the individuality of an item created by hand using locally sourced materials. I sincerely appreciate your interest in my work.