a shoe shine brush box

A reader sent this photo of a shoe brush box made by his grandfather, then a student of Educational Sloyd in Sweden in 1906. You would have to be of a certain age to know what a shoe brush box was for. At an earlier time people would be judged based on what they wore on their feet and keeping a good shine would tell a great deal about you. Making a good box also tells a lot about you, too.

The brushes for polishing shoes would be kept in the upper compartment and the tins for polish would be kept in the open compartment below. This particular box, though worn from over 100 years, is evidence of skilled craftsmanship.  Note the symmetry at the top and the symmetrical placement of the nails joining the front to the sides. It was carefully done, which explains why it was kept and not thrown out. 

This particular design was from the 1902 Nääs Model Series and likely produced by students all over Sweden in that era. My thanks to Jim Shaw for having sent of photo of his grandfather's box

Make, fix and create. Assist others in learning likewise.