Wood Box Furniture - Anyone know what this was used for?

[karu2]

This wooden box appears to be more of a piece of furniture than something that goes on a shelf.  It measures 14 x 13 inches. Had a church key lock at one time. May have belonged to my great or great great grandmother who lived in Tennessee. Thanks for having a look!

[maeday76]

Looks like a wine casket, but doesn't have the dividers. 

[aviper_70]

I think it can store some pottery items.

[karu2]

I thought for wine, too. The bottles were short and squat back then. But the box opens from the front so I don't know how dividers would work. Thanks for your reply!

[karu2]

Interesting...what kind of pottery items. The box measures only 14 X 13 inches. Thanks for your reply!

[mhdasir_34]

hmm... must be something used for storing personal valuables, not quite sure but it looks good for something that is very old 

[karu2]

It has a place for a handle or knob but it does not lock. Thanks for your reply!

[69heathery]

Sorry, but it made me this of Doctor Who with Dorium's head in the box.

[karu2]

LOL😀 Except for the trim it looks just like it! Thanks for the laugh!

[69heathery]

Joking aside, did they use something like this to hold a person's ashes?

[karu2]

I never would have thought of that. I am going to see if I can find a photo of something similar that was used for ashes. Thanks for the idea. 

[donsdetour]

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@karu2 wrote:

I never would have thought of that. I am going to see if I can find a photo of something similar that was used for ashes. Thanks for the idea. 

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Urn is possible: yet no was to latch door makes such questionable.

was thinking some kind of humidor, tobacco related maybe...

On the hing side there seems to be markings or other inside the box that can not be seen clear: what is that??

[karu2]

There was some kind of handle, but it did not go through the door so I assume it was just for opening and closing. The markings you see "might" have been paper, but that was long gone. 

May be kind of tall for a humidor, but I don't know way back then. 

What about spices or sugar chest.  My original thought has been a cellarette. They were for wine (bottles were short back then) but there are no dividers and it opens from the front. Cellarettes were made in my part of the country.