I mentioned the other day that while at the beach in Amagansett, my husband found a few free items on the side of the road. Score! I brought home a fantastic table and I also grabbed this really neat box. It is super, super old and really long. It has letters stamped on its side that I am hoping someone may help me decipher. Help me with the mystery! Each end has a latch to close the box and the whole thing is pretty neat and very charming.
After bringing it inside, I wiped out the spiders that had been living inside it and then thought that it would look pretty on my table. I quickly added a few tea candles.
I then added dried hydrangeas. It is definitely not the safest as far as the candles may light up the dried flowers and then the box, so I will change the candles to the battery powered ones. I took the pics just to give you an idea of what I am thinking. 
Does anyone have any idea on what this box was meant for originally? Quite the find!
Perhaps it is a gun case for a musket (rifle)?
Hi Vicki – yes, that was my initial thought as well but I can’t seem to find another like it on Google images. I shall keep trying 🙂
What a super cool idea Suzanne! You are soo dang crafty lady! Love all your Blog posts!
Thanks so much, Stephanee!
For pool cue sticks?
Maybe? I need to find the answer to share with everyone 🙂
It may be a box for a navigation roller ruler used on ships.
I am going to google it asap – thanks for the tip!
I was thinking Easel box for a folding easel. From France, fastener suggests made in older mans shop,not machined in a city! Lovely item! Like your modern interpatation of decor uses. Take to the Shore & paint water Colors of sunsets!???
I would never in a million years have thought of that! Thanks for the tip!
No kidding quite the find! Your hubby did well I must say. I am still trying to teach my hubby to see the potential of junk and treasure. Great job.
Maybe a munitions box??
I shall google that 🙂
Can’t help with what it is though, but it’s great.
Appears to be from WWI. I would contact your local veteran organizations to request some help with it.
Hi Catherine – excellent suggestion and thanks so much!
An old fishing pole box? It looks right for storing the segmented pole and a reel.
Hi Nina – good idea!
Maybe an instrument from orchestra? Looks a little rough for that but who knows what it looked like in its best of days. Love how you are repurposing it.
Thanks, Darlene! I must say that I love it right now on my table 🙂
To me it looks like someone made the box to house something like a fishing pole or a rifle.the wood for the box looks like plywood with the wood with the letters and numbers might of come from a foot locker and the letters FRANC might mean the country France .. Diane G
I am also leaning towards rifle…but the comment about it being used as a shipping box is quite intriguing.
Kim at Savvy Southern Style with a French Twist may have some ideas.
Good idea! I love her blog!
The box looks exactly like one that we have. When we moved back from Italy to the U.S., the company that shipped our furniture and goods by container on a ship, used the box to pack delicate items (Capo di Monte figurines in our case). Our box looks a lot newer but is built exactly the same way. The writing on the side probably is the country it was shipped from (France) and the name of the client.
I love your blog!
Thanks, Dianne! AWESOME tip!
Hi Suzanne,
Am I stating the obvious by saying it says, Francis Ryan? (You said you wanted help deciphering it, but…???). The numbers would be his enlistment number, battalion/whatever. I’d say it’s a soldier’s artillery box. Whatever it is I love it!
Cheers, Elisabeth. (Australia).
PS!!! Or maybe the wood has been recycled into this box, which would explain why the numbers don’t fit perfectly on the box? You could try googling the name and numbers in any war memorial type site.
Hi Elisabeth! I tried Googling but can’t seem to find any other one like it. Also, I originally thought it said Francis Ryan too but now think it is Franc 18?
Super cool find, Suzanne! I’m guessing a rifle case.
That is my guess too! It is an awesome find!
Maybe it’s an old fashion telescope, the kind you push/pull in/out. Whatever it is, I love it! I especially love what you are doing with t. Tank you for sharing.
Thanks, Ivory! What a great idea!
I’m thinking tools or possibly a gun of some sort. It is really cool and a great find.
I was thinking a surveyor’s box to hold whatever it is called that he looks thru on a tripod……early version!