Found in Tennessee but probably Maine in origin, this is a c. early 20th century book shaped spruce gum box. (More below re. spruce gum boxes). You know I love a book shaped anything, and love tokens of all sorts, and naive drawings too, and this is all rolled into one, with a horseshoe and flowers and wonderful spelling of "For get," too!
Associated with logging and lumbering activities, spruce gum boxes, also known as gum books, were usually carved out from a solid piece of wood, as this one was, with a sliding opening at bottom. Just as sailors made shell valentines and baskets and carvings, these were made by lumberman as gifts for loved ones, most dating from 1850-1920, after which improved transportation allowed them to return home more frequently. Spruce gum, which comes from sap that is hardened into resin, became quite an industry, with Maine the largest and probably first producer of gum with nearly two dozen companies emerging between 1848-1910.
4 7/16 x 3 3/16 x 1 1/4 and in very good condition, with slider at one end that fits well and slides all the way out.
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