This may be my very favorite sort of find: a resourceful solution to a very specific problem, which clearly served its function and lives on as a beautiful, evocative object with its history of use written all over it. To me, this is a deeply satisfying thing!
The handmade wooden box was clearly specifically made to house this warming stone--which would be heated in the fire, then placed in the box, which would then be placed under someone's feet, quite likely in a carriage to provide some warmth. There were commercially made boxes made for this purpose, but this is a million times better, with a square nail used for punching holes in the lid in order to let the heat out. The stone itself is carved one one side with the name of its onetime owner, which is a bit hard to read but it looks to me that the first name was Charles. And then the inside bottom of the box shows blackening from the heat the of the stone. Plus, found inside, a copy of "The Flag of Our Union," a sort of literary paper published in Boston, this one dated March 3, 1849!
Box measures 9 1/2" x 7 3/8" x 2 3/4". The leather hinges which once joined lid to bottom as long since broken, so lid just rests on top. The newspaper is very brittle with lots of tears, but nice to keep with it I think. Bottom of box is in very good structural condition and quite sturdy. Stone shows beautiful wear across its front and back surface and is in excellent condition--and could be put to use again!
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