BOX. A container or receptacle of dimensions usually not exceeding 2 or 3 ft., made of various firm materials into many different shapes, and provided with a lid which opens by lifting or sliding, and which may be fastened by hinges, catches, hasps and locks. The same term is sometimes applied to a small, box like compartment in the theatre, in which may be four, six or eight chairs. It is also applied in various ways, such as the "box" on a coach, a "shooting-box," etc., and is often used in a hyphen ated sense, connected with the word which describes its contents or use, such as work-box, snuff-box, cash-box, hat-box, etc. It is perhaps best known in the home as a receptacle for family keep sakes, jewels, money, deeds and securities.
For centuries boxes have been constructed of innumerable materials, though wood, iron and brass have perhaps been the most common. The top centre illustration shows a Greek box of pot tery, and to the left at the top, a 17th century Dutch box made partially of bone. Many types of decoration have been used to enhance the beauty of boxes, such as painting, enamelling, gilding and the inlaying of jewels, while others have been covered with various fabrics or carved in the material of which they were made. (See the hat-box in the illustration.) There were in the 16th century many oak boxes carved with foliage scrolls, dragons, animals, profile heads of noted also inlays of many other kinds of wood. The ebony box, more common at a later date, gave even more opportunities for carved decoration, and many were mounted with silver corners. Con siderable marquetry and gay colours were common on the walnut and mahogany boxes of the 17th century. Tortoise-shell money boxes and work-boxes were best known about the reign of Charles II. The work-box, used by women, was perhaps the most widely used type. It was often fitted with a tray divided into small com partments, for a needle-case, a pin-cushion, reels of silk and cot ton, and other necessary equipment for sewing.
The box may be considered one of the most primitive pieces of furniture as it is one of the first things made by man, and the fact that its size and construction lent itself so conveniently to decoration, and that it has always been among the prize posses sions of man, means that it often has a tremendous historic inter est and artistic value.