Sailor-made Chip-carved Covered Trinket Box

Description:

Sailor-made Chip-carved Covered Trinket Box, James Foster, Rochester, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, 1788, round maple box with lapped seams fastened with copper rivets, carved domed lid with bone finial, the cover with copper riveted date "1788" the sides of the box riveted with the name "HULDY FOSTER" and two hearts, the cover and sides ornamented with geometric and compass chip-carved decoration, and an inlaid "X," a paper inside the box is inscribed: "This box was made by James Foster for his sister Huldy during one of his sea voyages. He was born 7-25-1768. Drowned at sea 12-5-1790"; (shrinkage crack on cover, losses on cover rim),overall ht. 3 1/2, dia. 4 1/4 in.

Note: James and Huldah (Huldy) Foster were two of the eleven children of Deacon James and Mary (Lewis) Foster who resided in Rochester, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. Huldy was born August 23, 1766 and died February 15, 1857.
Estimate $800-1,200

a 1 5/8 x 1/8 sliver of loss on cover rim band and also a small1/2 x 1/8 in. loss at joinery of lapped band on cover, unobtrusive shrinkage crack across cover with glued repair.

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