Antique Italian box. Handcrafted by nuns in the convent dating to the early 1800s. This is an amazing and rare oval-shaped box. The lid is long gone, but the original paint is still visible after all these years. This antique box is of Italian origin near Barbara, Italy. I can't be sure, but it could have come from the Abbey of San Galgano, Monastero Le Vallesi, or the Abbey of Thelema, as all three places are near Barbara, where the box was located. The antique box is made from thin wood strips that have been bent. Probably using a water technique. By immersing wood in boiling water, the wood fibers loosen up, making it softer and more pliable, allowing the wood to bend into desired shapes while it's still hot; this technique is often referred to as "steam bending" even if you're using boiling water instead of steam. The box has been painted using tones of pale orange, black, and cream. These kinds of boxes were hand-crafted with great care by the skilled nuns in Catholic Convents, especially in Italy, Spain, and France and they were used to contain a variety of items.
The box base measures approximately 4.75" x 2.75" x 1.75". It is in very good condition for its age. The box is timeworn but has a great patina and faded grandeur. The structure of the box is sturdy and in very good shape.
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