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