“Cubby" Oval
18th C. Box
Monogrammed Box 

New England, ca. 1740-1770.

Original dry worn and patinated white paint on pine and probably ash. This box has early features of the oval being relatively wide (chubby), fingering on the end rather than a side, and wrought/rosehead nail joinery.

The engraved triangular marriage monogram ‘B/IM’ on the lid is seldom found on a pantry box. By convention, the surnames’ first initial is on top, husband’s initial lower left, wife’s initial lower right. Note that the ‘I’ may be a ‘J’ as it was convention in this period to write a J as an I. The monogram indicates that this box was likely made for their marriage, and important to them.

Losses and a split lid, the top smoothly burnished from frequent handling and rubbing. About 8 ½ inches long x 7 ¼ wide x 3 1/8 tall. A joy to hold a pre-Revolution box working approaching three centuries of age.