Listed for your consideration is a vintage hand-stitched trinket box, crafted in an octagonal shape from an assortment of cards containing marine images.  The lovely lid has swans on a lake, the sides have flying geese and ducks, a rowboat in the water near a cabin in the woods, a peaceful lotus blossom in the water, and a lighthouse with a boat near the shore. The underside of the lid had more flying water fowl, and the bottom has two children sailing in a small boat filled with flowers. 

Postcards, greeting cards and other pictorial materials were cleverly upcycled to create these trinket, hankie or jewelry boxes, as they were called. Often the cards were protectively covered in clear plastic, as the ones on this box are, variously  described as “celluloid”, “cellophane” or “acetate”,   sourced from any type of clear plastic, including the plastic lids from mens’ shirt boxes of the day.  

Such beautifully hand-crafted and hand-stitched boxes were widely popular in the United States and in other countries as well, especially during the 1930s-1950s.  Most often, they were given as gifts to children and to young ladies.  Today they are increasingly more collectible, as are the old instructions for creating them.  They make charming keepsakes!  

CONDITION:  Minimal signs of usage. No damage.  Clean, non-smoking environment.