Another Sonneberger Box

I was thrilled to have found another hand painted primitive box made in Sonneberg/Thuringia, ca. 1830-40, one of the nicest examples I have seen!   Considering its age, the box and painting are in wonderful condition.  Only the metal escutcheon is missing (you can see the shadow of where it once was in place around the key hole).  

The charming hand painting can be found on all four sides, except the lid, and since the box is 10 inches long and 6 inches deep, the box shows beautifully from every angle.

This is also the first box I have seen that is also decorated inside.  My first thought was it was intended to be used as a writing desk, but all German Musterbücher (sample books) picturing these boxes available for sale in the first half of the 1800s show in their handwritten inventories that they were sold as sewing boxes (Nähkästchen).   This one still has its original key!