Charming 1889 Wire-Hinged Wooden Box with Hand-sewn, Embroidered Piecework Decoration original carving 19th century New England I

19th century New England I believe

which were sold together in one box--are among the rarer among them

Jinks began salvaging and collecting junk found on the job to make into art

just minor aging and a little toning

which I believe this is

Charming 1889 Wire-Hinged Wooden Box with Hand-sewn, Embroidered Piecework Decoration original carving 19th century New England IHandwritten sideways in small, careful numbers on one interior wall of this box is the year 1889, almost like a secret. I think it's possible the wire hinged box itself is a little older than that, but would guess that's when the top of it was decorated with this silk and velvet and brocade piecework quilt of sorts, with embroidered stem of red flowers on dark blue wool at center. A few die cut decoupage elements on the slate gray painted sides, too,