Ye Olde Tupperware

I did some research on the Shakers.  My favorite discovery is their "invention" of the Shaker Box.  I put the quotes, because it's likely they didn't actually invent them, so much as they got really skilled at making lots of quality ones.  Sort of how Henry Ford didn't "invent" the car or the assembly line - he just jumped it ahead.
Anyway, the base conundrum is:  You live before plastics exist, but you want to keep critters out of your food ingredients.  Hence the Shaker Box.  It is the old world version of Tupperware.

I'll add little "in-progress" pictures next time I make a batch, but you have to make a very careful form for each size box so that they will all store inside each other.
First you steam bend the bottom and tack it closed with copper nails, then you steam bend the top right onto the bottom, getting a near perfect seal (perfect seal if you use the standards from 100 years ago).  Tada!  Air tight boxes for storing anything dry that you want to store.
Now I make these for people as potpourri storage, desk organizers, decorations, and gifts.  Also great for storing jewelry or as special gift boxes.