Hand-Painted Tole Silent Butler by Nashco

In a more elegant age, crumbs on the table needed to be discreetly removed and 'The Silent Butler' was one method. These boxes have a long handle and can usually be opened by one hand with the aid of a thumb-piece. The other hand can then use a brush or else flick the debris into the box. This example is of tole, and hand-painted with roses, other flowers and leaves and trimmed in gold. It is marked 'Hand Painted Nashco Products Inc. Scranton, PA' on the base. There is minor paint wear on the item but it is in otherwise good condition. This is a very attractive example. Length 10.75 ins (27cm), width 7.75 ins (19.5cm), depth 1.5 ins (3.75cm). Weight 412 grams. This item can be seen in the book, "Antique Boxes - Inside and Out", on page 106.