Antique Swedish Butte or Tine

Back for a moment to something truly, truly antique. Swedish folk art.

A wonderfully shaped bentwood box, held together by edges “stitched” with reed or thin strips of wood. Decorated in a delightfully primitive manner by a former owner — or more likely, a former owner’s wife.

Boxes like these were once used to store treasured things. Traditional costume pieces, but also small precious belongings deserving of a special place of their own.

And you can of course use it for exactly that. Though I happen to know, from a reliable source, that over the past few decades this box mainly served as a sewing box. And if you buy it, I shall inspect it one more time very carefully to make absolutely certain I’ve removed every last pin and needle.

It is in good antique condition. There is a small hole in one of the sides, and here and there the lid no longer fits perfectly flush against the box itself. But the lid still works properly, and the box remains absolutely beautiful. A unique piece, and not one you come across very often in this (rather generous) size.

Dimensions: height (including lid) 16 cm (approx. 6.3 inches), length 43 cm (approx. 16.9 inches), width 26 cm (approx. 10.2 inches).