Mini Trunk/ My Mother's Sewing Box

The construction method used in your box is called Svepask. Here is a article about it:
https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svepask

 

After reading about Svepask boxes they are apparently historically made in sweden which would make sense of the what is says and reinforce the idea of your great-grandmother having this in Norway.

 

Wow you guys are so awesome I have so much more's beautiful things to go through it's awesome to know that I have a community of passionate people that love this stuff is much as I do. It's nice now if I get stuck and I can come pick you guys' brains. I have finished uploading all the photos if you want to look at them so in your opinion how much do you think the box is worth

 

What a cool item to have passed in the family!

Questions to ask yourself that might help you - What were your great great grandmother's dates? Do you know when she married? Did her name start with a K? And if not, is there someone else back then whose name did?

 

After doing a little research I don't think that it is the box you were thinking of just because my grandmother came from Norway doesn't mean that the person who gave this to her came from Norway I looked at all those boxes I couldn't find any pictures of those types of boxes with cast-iron or with a elegant lock. I think more digging is needed

 

I didn't mean that this is a Svepask box but rather that it has been made with the same method of construction (that is how the body of it is bent and has no 90° angles).

 

Bentwood band boxes are not at all exclusive to Sweden or Scandinavia - that said, boxes similar to yours were made in Norway, can't see any reason that it wouldn't have been made there and then traveled here with your ancestor. Your pics are a bit unclear to my old eyes, but if it says 'Anno 1861', as Judy suggests, then that was most likely when it was made, though similar boxes might be earlier or even later.

Looks like there might be some remnants of paint aside from the writing, it definitely needs some care, and would be concerned about the rust on the wrought iron bands, hinges, and lock. At that size, and with the lock, it was probably intended to hold valuables, like money, jewelry, documents, etc. - rectangular boxes like the one posted by Judy are probably more common, but have seen quite a few oval ones over the years.

Here is one similar, close in age, a bit larger in size:

https://colonialarts.com/products/norwgian-bent-wood-box

And another, a century older, and a bit smaller:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/281731660/1777-norwegian-chest-bent-wood-antique?ref=market

~Cheryl

 

Should add, might look into your genealogy for a link to the year, the dated boxes and trunks usually corresponded to an event, might have been birth, christening, marriage, or even emigration to the U.S.

~Cheryl

 

What would you say it's worth Josh? I respect your opinions and knowledge of items.

 

What would you say it is worth?

 

??

 

Values are difficult due to so many variables. Foremost in this is where and how you are selling. I could see this going for $100.00 at a small auction house or up to $1000.00 in a big city shop. Chances are, the value for most situations falls somewhere in between. If looking for an insurance value, you would do best to have it appraised. If looking to sell, you might want to contact an auction house or two for an evaluation.

 

What brad is saying is that while some members here will offer up their opinion on an items value, this site is not a price guide.
The best we can do here is to ferret out and confirm an items identity, in an effort to better help you to ascertain a ballpark value for your purpose, in your market.

 

I found this box that was listed on ebay in 2013 as being late 1700s and Swedish. The asking price was $999.00. The listing ended without selling.



This 19th century one with damage sold for $140.00 at auction.



https://new.liveauctioneers.com/item/40704879_19th-c-scandinavian-dowry-box

 

What would you say is the best way to get an item appraised I live in a small town so I would have to go to Orlando for auction houses how do you go about doing this? Thank you guys for all your help. Also I'm trying to upload more photos but it said I reach 50 MB. Is that all the photos you can upload can you upgrade your account?

 

Write and ask them what they want of you first.
~
I don't know what the total is, check the help file, but you can only load 10 at a time.
Make your photos 480x640 always and you shouldn't have any trouble.

 

My experience has been to send clear detailed photos to an auction house. (
In my case it was ARS (Skinner's).

Provide as much detail/provenance as you know. Date of when your relative lived would be helpful.

Let us know what develops.

 

Here is a decent article about finding an appraiser with links to three organizations that certify them. Do expect to pay for their services.

http://time.com/money/3742772/how-to-find-appraiser/

 

Thank you guys much appreciated as always!