Mexican Folk Art Hand-Painted Floral Wooden Box with Iron Handles

A solid wood storage box of square form with notched, scalloped upper corners and a soft olive-green ground hand-painted with oversized stylized blossoms — coral and salmon petals radiating from yellow centers, surrounded by veined green foliage and budding stems. Two opposing sides carry forged-iron strap handles with hammered surfaces and arrow-form terminals, fixed with visible hardware. The interior is finished in a contrasting coral-orange, a deliberate choice that frames the open top and plays against the muted exterior palette.

The painted decoration reflects the confident linework of Mexican folk tradition — outlined petals, speckled shading, and freehand vine work wrapping continuously around all four faces. The bold floral vocabulary and color palette are consistent with painted-wood craft traditions from central Mexico, where artisans applied similar motifs to furniture, boxes, and household wares for both domestic use and export. Unmarked as to specific maker or region of origin. The form suits use as a planter cachepot, log box, magazine holder, or decorative storage.

CONDITION

Good overall and sturdy. Age-appropriate finish wear with minor paint loss along edges and corners, scattered scuffs to the painted surface, and signs of outdoor use including light weathering to the lower exterior. Interior coral finish remains strong.

DIMENSIONS / SPECIFICATIONS

• Overall: 11 1/2" H × 11" W × 11 1/2" D
• Weight: 6 lbs
• Construction: Solid wood
• Hardware: Forged iron strap handles, arrow terminals
• Decoration: Hand-painted floral motif on olive ground, coral interior