A scarce 19th c. miniature pantry box in original finish crafted by legendary Hingham, MA toy maker Samuel Hersey. 
Samuel constructed his pantry boxes of this style in maple wood and pine for its wood composition. Steam bent maple wood wws used to form the body and fitted around a pine wood oval bottom. The corresponding lid is of maple wood throughout. Lap joints are finished with arrow ends. 
Joinery consists of two tiny copper tacks placed at the lap joint ends and reinforced by a corresponding tack placed exactly 11/16" horizontal. Extremely small wooden pegs join the lid and body boards. An inscriptionnm on the underside of the lid denotes "Nails" in cursive. 
The original finish survives and has attained a beautiful mellow color with its lid showing being darkened with patina. 
According to "Bucket Town: Woodenware & Wooden Toys of Hingham, Massachusetts 1635-1945 by Derin Bray, little information of Samuel Hersey exists on paper, however, his craft of surviving examples tells us of his extreme devotion to quality and consistency. Utilizing a regiment of near perfection skills, his miniature pantry boxes like this example exude pride and focus of toy manufacturing. 
This particular example is the second smallest known size at 2 9/16"W and matches perfectly within a known set of examples now owned by Historic New England and before, owned by Bertram K. and Nina Fletcher Little. 
Survives in perfect condition, without flaw and leaves nothing to be desired while retaining the most ideal surface elements possible. 
Hingham, Massachusetts origin. Ca. 1850-1870.