Early 1900's Mason's Challenge Blacking Wood Product Box with Famous Art

This antique wooden box measures 11-3/8" in length, 8" in width, and 4-7/8" in height with the lid down, but you'll want to display this lot with the lid up due to the original artwork on the inside of the lid.

The box was designed to hold three dozen tins of Mason's black shoe polish. The inside of the lid features the famous-colored illustration of a Black man polishing a pair of large boots, with a dog and a white-uniformed boy watching. The dog's reflection is also shown on the newly polished boot placed on the sidewalk. The bottom front panel of the box also has a black and white illustration of the picture under the lid. 

The wood box is in very good condition, with a crack on the bottom board and the lid being somewhat warped. The original wire top hinges are present, and the dovetail corner construction relating to the assembly of the box is noticeable.

The condition of the large colored illustration under the lid is very good, with very little paper loss, but there is some cracking due to age. The lower front panel illustration has some paper loss on the left edge and the bottom of the panel.

The manufacturer logo and details are present with very little distortion. This famous illustration appears in many museums, including the American Museum of History.