Shaker Oval Boxes
These boxes are reproductions of the original bentwood box design produced by Shaker craftsman as early as the late 18th Century in Mount Lebanon, NY. In time they were produced on a large scale in other communities and sold to the outside world and were considered a luxury item costing as much as an entire day’s wages. In Shaker communities, bentwood boxes were used to store pantry items and teas in the kitchen, sewing supplies in the workroom, and nails and paint pigments in the workshop. The boxes were sized to nest in one another so that when not in use the collection could be stored efficiently. They were available in 20 sizes from just over one inch long to nearly three feet.
The boxes are made by soaking 1/16” thick wood bands in hot water to loosen the fibers in the wood and allow them to bend around an oval form. The bands cool around the form for 24 hours and are tacked in place with small copper rivets. The tops and bottoms are sized to fit within the bands and are held in place with small wood pegs and without glue. This allows for the seasonal movement of the wood with changes in humidity.
I use only food safe finishes for the boxes. The insides are finished with shellac. I often paint the bands with milk paint which is similar to what was used over 200 years ago. Finally, the boxes get a coat of oil and wax to protect them and give them a nice soft glow.
In Cherry
No. 0 1 1/16” + 7/16” x 1 7/8” x 3 ½”
No. 1 1 ½” + ½” x 2 9/16” x 4 9/16”
No. 2. 2” + 5/8” x 3 ½” x 5 ¾”
No. 3 2 ½” + 11/16” x 4 ½” x 7”
No. 4 3 1/16” + ¾” x 5 ½” x 8 ¼”
I usually keep a small inventory of these boxes. Please contact me for sizes and colors available.