| Boxes are highly variable receptacles. When | | | | house, such as holding trading cards, photos, |
| no shape is described, a typical rectangular | | | | and just about anything else. |
| box may be expected. Nevertheless, a box may | | | | |
| have a horizontal cross section that is | | | | It can also be used as an adjective to |
| square, elongated, round or oval; sloped or | | | | describe being unfairly treated. An example |
| domed top surfaces, or non-vertical sides. A | | | | would be "Don't you shoebox me!" It is also |
| box normally may be opened by raising, | | | | used to describe someone with a closed minded |
| sliding or removing the lid, which may be | | | | way of thinking who prefers to generalize |
| hinged and/or fastened by a catch, clasp, or | | | | others unfavorably. |
| lock. Whatever its shape or purpose or the | | | | |
| material of which it is fashioned, it is the | | | | Strong box |
| direct descendant of the chest, one of the | | | | |
| most ancient articles of domestic furniture. | | | | A strong-box is a receptacle for money, deeds |
| Its uses are innumerable, and the name, | | | | and securities. Its place has been taken in |
| preceded by a qualifying adjective, has been | | | | modern life by the safe. Some of those which |
| given to many objects of artistic or | | | | have survived, such as that of Sir Thomas |
| antiquarian interest. | | | | Bodley in the Bodleian library, possess locks |
| | | | with an extremely elaborate mechanism |
| Packaging boxes | | | | contrived in the under-side of the lid. |
| | | | |
| Boxes for packaging and shipping are most | | | | Knife box |
| commonly made from cardboard. Wooden boxes | | | | |
| are used for shipping heavy or delicate | | | | The knife-box is one of the most charming of |
| objects. Large wooden boxes are usually | | | | the minor pieces of furniture which we owe to |
| called crates. Cardboard boxes are made from | | | | the artistic taste and mechanical ingenuity |
| either flat or corrugated cardboard. | | | | of the English cabinet-makers of the last |
| | | | quarter of the 18th century. Some of the most |
| Permanent boxes | | | | elegant were the works of Adam, Hepplewhite |
| | | | and Sheraton. Occasionally flat-topped boxes, |
| Numerous types of boxes are used in permanent | | | | they were most frequently either rod-shaped, |
| installations. Some types are designed to be | | | | or tall and narrow with a sloping tip |
| temporarily inhabited by workers. Permanent | | | | necessitated by a series of raised veins for |
| boxes include the following: | | | | exhibiting the handles of knives and the |
| | | | bowls of spoons. Mahogany and satinwood were |
| Equipment boxes: | | | | the woods most frequently employed, and they |
| | | | were occasionally inlaid with marqueterie or |
| Fuse box | | | | edged with boxwood. These graceful |
| | | | receptacles still exist in large numbers; |
| Inhabited boxes: | | | | they are often converted into stationery |
| | | | cabinets. |
| Luxury box | | | | |
| | | | Bible box |
| Police box | | | | |
| | | | The Bible box, usually of the 17th century, |
| Signal box | | | | but now and again more ancient, probably |
| | | | obtained its name from the fact that it was |
| Telephone box | | | | of a size to hold a large Bible. It often has |
| | | | a carved or incised lid. In Colonial America |
| Jewel box | | | | the Bible box was built of wood, specifically |
| | | | as a container for a bible, but it often had |
| A jewel-box is a receptacle for trinkets, not | | | | dual use as a portable desk. |
| only jewels. It may take a very modest form, | | | | |
| covered in leather and lined with satin, or | | | | Famous boxes |
| it may reach the monumental proportions of | | | | |
| the jewel cabinets which were made for Marie | | | | According to Greek mythology the Pandora's |
| Antoinette, one of which is at Windsor, and | | | | box is said to be the cause of evil being |
| another at Versailles, the work of | | | | released into the world. |
| Schwerdfeger as cabinetmaker, Degault as | | | | |
| miniature-painter, and Thomire as chaser. | | | | One form of camoflague in the popular Metal |
| | | | Gear Solid video game series is a cardboard |
| Shoebox | | | | box. It is often referred to by fans as 'The |
| | | | Box'. |
| A shoebox is, exactly as its name implies, a | | | | |
| cardboard box which holds a pair of shoes. It | | | | Box shape |
| is commonly acquired when one purchases a | | | | |
| pair of shoes. Shoeboxes have long been | | | | A common storage box has the shape of a |
| cherished for their versatility and are | | | | cuboid |
| commonly used for many tasks around the | | | | |