This box was made by an unknown craftsman untold years ago, my guess is the 1930’s. It is constructed of oak, pine and Spanish cedar cigar boxes (faded cigar box stamps still barely visible inside).
It surfaced recently from a closet at my grandmother’s house. She is a spry 89 years old and still the powerhouse of the family. She said I always loved this box and should have it.
When she first brought it out, it looked vaguely familiar. I held it and glimpses of my childhood came forward in my brain. I took out the top drawer and instinctively raised it to my nose. The olfactory senses rushed me back to the three year old, armed with crayons, toy cars and plastic army men, playing with this box. A remembrance of youthful euphoria re-entered my soul.
I think I chipped the little top drawer and maybe I used up a silver crayola “decorating” it.
The sense of smell is the most remarkable memory stimulant.
This box now sits on my dresser and acts as my valet and a reminder where I came from. All I need to do is open a drawer and take a sniff.
-- Please visit me at http://dustynewt.com
7 comments so far
jcees
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552 posts in 694 days
posted 531 days ago
Beauty! It’s amazing how our olfactory sense is engaged and so closely linked to memory. We should all bear that aspect in mind when creating our future heirlooms. Who knows who will engage our projects years after we’re gone [hopefully family] and will respond with pleasant memories conjured by the scent of our work?
I can close my eyes and walk through my maternal grandparent’s homestead [long gone] and remember the sight, sound and scent of the place. I miss it so.
always,
J.C.
-- "Imagination is more important than knowledge" -- Albert Einstein
stanley2
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278 posts in 690 days
posted 531 days ago
I really enjoyed the sentiment expressed in your description of this interesting piece. What is the knob on the top right?
-- Phil in British Columbia
Russel
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2058 posts in 834 days
posted 531 days ago
That’s a beautiful box, and the story that goes with it only makes it that much richer. I’d be willing to bet that when it was made nobody expected it to be an heirloom and yet now it is full of memories just waiting to be lived again. Very cool.
-- Working at Woodworking www.VillageLaneFurniture.com
Douglas Bordner
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3423 posts in 958 days
posted 531 days ago
Thanks for the great post. I believe we have weighted in on Spanish cedar together in “conversation” here. I try and line every box I make with it anymore. What a great memory to share.
Totally off-topic, I wish I could have held onto my Grandma’s button jar. She was a seamstress and it was a source of childhood memories for both my sister and I. Good for you that you have this iconic piece from your childhood.
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
dustynewt
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447 posts in 757 days
posted 531 days ago
Phil – The knob is a wooden thread spool, with a chip (I didn’t do that one). I don’t know what its intended use is.
-- Please visit me at http://dustynewt.com
Jon3
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439 posts in 1000 days
posted 526 days ago
Wow, that is some excellent carving on that.
You should consider making it a matching set!
Grumpy
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14922 posts in 746 days
posted 526 days ago
Nice look into the past Dusty.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python