Presumed 18th Century Heavy Book Shaped Writing Box with Original Red Paint Remnants, Likely British phenomenon And how to beat the

And how to beat the grace of a Loon

7 inches long x 2 11/16" wide x 1 7/8" t

which would originally have housed a combination of undivided cubes and others divided in halves or quarters

The yellow clay bottom points to it being from Ohio

Perhaps nice to have the two together to use somehow (a pretty little pillow they would make) so I'm selling as a pair

Presumed 18th Century Heavy Book Shaped Writing Box with Original Red Paint Remnants, Likely British phenomenon And how to beat theI've had a couple of 19th century book shaped tole painted boxes holding ink wells with room for pens and letters inside; this I believe is an earlier and finer precursor to those, 18th century British I think. I purchased it at one of the shows in Nashville from a dealer who had purchased it at auction, described that way, and it is most definitely old, crafted, it appears to me, of thick, heavy brass (it is quite heavy and substantial for its size.)