Toleware Spice Box, Round, with 7 Containers, Antique 19th C

This great Spice Box is of dark japanned tin with some hand painting. It has a brass handle and a hinged hasp-closing lid. The round box has 7 spice containers, all stenciled: Ginger, Cloves, Pepper, Allspice, Mace, Nutmeg, and Cinnamon. The stenciling on the Cloves container is worn. All the others are quite readable in good light.

The box is 7" in diameter, and 2-5/8" high (not including the bail handle. The containers are about 2-1/2" high and 2" in diameter.

The box is in quite good condition. The base is worn, and there are various scratches and chips to the exterior. It displays nicely. It has a lovely spicy smell. I haven't emptied out the small containers which must still harbor some spices.

Note: I date this spice box c 1880, from information in the great "300 years of Kitchen Collectibles" by Linda Campbell Franklin.