Small paper boxes have a way with my heart. Old ones, that are battered with labels, ones like in yesterday's post that have memories tucked inside such as baby teeth, lockets, of hair, hooks and eyes… Little old boxes that fortunately did not get thrown away a hundred years ago. How lucky I am that someone tucked them inside their undergarment drawer instead of the trash can.
Such is life each of us seek and find our way to splurge of small joys, some people like to go to the spa, or have their nails done, and some like to play tennis or go to the gym with a new pair of sports shoes. As for me I like to go to hot dusty brocantes and look for old paper boxes.
I have a thing for paper boxes, especially if the packaging is intact.
This one is one of my favorites. It has seen better days you might say, and it has. The labels are intact and inside the box is full of candles.
Quit shaken your head at me, I already know… I am kinda nutty.
Nineteen century pure wax candles. I am going to wrap old hand written music paper around them, then with a piece of twine attach a religious medal as a final touch. I'll put them in a jar to look pretty on the container. Not practical but appealing to the eye. Well my eye that is.
Hand wrapped boxes are certainly meant to hold something special.
Small blue boxes are a dead give away of jewelry.
The hand wrapped box had a bunch of tin religious medals. I will use them when wrapping the candles. I wonder if they belonged to a nun? Was she going to give them away at first communion?
Paper pharmacy box… it is all in the labeling. I so dig the labeling.
Hook and eyes, and bobby pins, made in Paris and still around to talk about it.
I do not know what they are talking about, but they are talking.
When I see boxes such as these I know I am going to stop and open each one. It is one of my obsessions. My name is Nut-case and I like to open boxes, and if they do not cost more than a dollar I usually buy them. And if you want one I have a special price just for you… $100,000,000.
I take my boxes seriously. Just as seriously as someone who has broken one of their fake nails.
Tin boxes are highly collectible, they cost much more too, I rarely buy them.
I understand why they are more sought after than paper boxes: Their labels are brighter, they are purposeful, they can survive fire, and even rain. But it is for the opposite reason that I love paper boxes– in their tender state they have withstood time.
Being frail is not always a weakness.
As you can see I love paper boxes.
Last weekend at the brocante I found two hand-made wooden boxes. Intriguing aren't they? I had never seen wooden boxes like this before and bought the two of them for the guessing game. I am loyal to my readers, and finding tricky French antiques for the guessing games is how I show you that you are never far from my mind.
The small wooden boxes have a red wax seal on each side. They use to be tied with string, then sealed and mailed.
The address was written with black ink often right on the box.
The ones I found are empty.
When I came home French Husband explained what they were used for. Holy cow was I surprise
d!
Do you know what they use to contain?
Take a nab at it. Trying guessing.
The first person who leaves the correct answer in the comment section will win a small antique token from France.
And the one who gives the most creative, original answer will antique token as well.
The contest ends tomorrow at nine in the morning my time.
___________Note_______________
Many of you asked what I was going to do with all that hemp and linen. I am taking it to Marburger Fair that is what I am going to do with it.
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