Coal boxes (also called “scuttles”) were containers designed to hold and carry coal for indoor heating.  By the mid-19th century, wood logs had largely replaced coal as a heat source.  The box could also be used to collect ashes once the fire was out.  Coal boxes could be very simple or quite ornate.

 

When a malleable metal is shaped by hammering from the reverse side to create a design in low relief, this is called repoussé (embossed pieces are the opposite).  This technique is ancient and has been used the world over.  Metals soft enough for use for repoussé include gold, silver, copper and alloys such as bronze. Very simple tools are employed, yet there is allowance for tremendous diversity of expression.