A 19th c. hanging spill holder in original red paint. 
Constructed from a single block of poplar and formed with a chamfered backboard terminating at each end with a semicurve and heart shape cutout. 
A pocket containing two bored holes for spills storage is decorsted with relief carving of hearts and a diamond, a popular Germanic motif seen throughout Pennsylvania decoration of the 18th & 19th c. Each is finished with a black painted exterior. 
The backboard is unpainted and displays witness marks of paint lines and swing marks from use. A commemorative date on the backside of "Feb the 5th 1894" is written in cursive pencil underneath "H M Gammill". This was likely made as a marriage gift.
When first acquired, the interior two wells were partially filled with bric a brac and string to accomodate and reuse as a match holder in the early 20th c. 
Remains in overall very good condition with minor edge wear. The painted surface excels in rich texture and undisturbed qualities. 
Pennsylvania origin, possibly Berks County. Ca. 1894. 11 1/4"T.