Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Offertory Box (Collecting Box) for Gravediggers, Painted Wood, 18th Century, Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery

Offertory Box (Collecting Box) for Gravediggers, Painted Wood, 18th Century; found on the Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery website; text explains:
This is a rare surviving example of a collecting box for gravediggers. It probably dates from the 18th century and is made from an unidentified hardwood, which has been painted, with a skull and crossbones. The church and the people working for the parish relied heavily on donations of money to boost their meagre earnings. 
More information--and additional views--can be found here.

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