There is a naïve quality to this mid nineteenth century trinket box. The stylised shoe has been carved from mahogany with a section of boxwood inlaid on the front to suggest a buckle. The delicate chip-carved decoration on the top and sides is typical of Welsh traditional carving.Shoes have a powerful imagery in European folk legend. They symbolise a woman's wealth and status and have therefore long been associated with love tokens and weddings. The Pinto collection has a large number of carved shoes which include objects such as snuff boxes, tea caddies and souvenirs.