Painted wood and plaster, with applied mussels and assorted materials, 9.75″ x 8″d x 10.75″ h, American, 19th century.

This mysterious box, perhaps a bird house, is covered with assorted objects that obviously had significance to its maker. Charms, a horse pin, and mussel shells are layed out in a wonderful pattern, then layered with plaster and heavily painted.