Dovetailed Slide Top Tinder Box

Dovetailed Slide Top Tinder Box.  Circa 19thC.  Used to store tinder for lighting of fire or candle.  Chamfered slide top with curved end.  Slide top also curiously has six evenly spaced air holes as well as a rectangular notch near the curved end.  Inside separated into compartments.  While this box does not completely reflect the Shaker aesthetic, it is attributed to Brother Thomas Fisher (1823-1902) of the Enfield, CT. community and was supposedly purchased from Gus Nelson, a well known Shaker collector.  An older sticker on the back states "Shaker K-170, Thomas Fisher, Enfield, Conn., 1889".  Brother Fisher was a cabinet maker at Enfield who was schooled in traditional furniture construction, but after around 1875, was influenced by Worldly designs.   If this item was in fact made by Brother Fisher and the date on the sticker is the year it was made, this may explain its general appearance.  Box measures 14" long x 9" wide x 2" deep.  Small damage to lower left hand corner of box as pictured.  Please contact us with any questions or for additional photos.