Australian cedar ballot box

Description

Australian cedar ballot box. Item 3313.

This cedar ballot box features two circular openings in the top, one silver (or white) and one black. In a secret ballot (usually for a club or the Freemasons) the member would lodge a white ball in the opening to accept a new member, or a black one to reject them. This is where the term “to blackball” someone comes from. The balls drop into the partioned drawer beneath and the ballots tallied. The box stands on four bun feet and is 220 mm high, 283 mm wide and 205 mm deep. It has retained its original patina, gilt brass handles and drawer knob. The circular openings in the top appear to be turned Huon pine. C 1860.