Another Auction box mystery box

[bdxample]

Thank you all ever so kindly on my previous posting. This box was also in the lot that i bought. It has the words "Hen Feathers" carved into the side. It is approx 5 by 4 inches and 1 inch deep, and weighs a little over a pound. It looks like it might be put into the ground with the lid on top sort of as a hiding place. The whole box seems to be made of stone. any help is appreciated, you treasurenetters are da bomb

[nhbenz]

Interesting little box. I did the easy thing and google searched "pinus pinaster", which I found is also called a maritime pine (or coastal pine). These trees are found widely, but most prevalent in the Mediterranean. In the United States I only noted them as being present in North Carolina and Hawaii. Maybe this could help discern where it was made?
Do the words "Hen Feathers" seem to have been made by the maker or by one of the owners? I have no idea why anyone would keep such things in a box, rather than in a pillow.

[Mackaydon]

Adding on to NHB:
The Maritime Pine (Pinus pinaster) is a pine native to the western Mediterranean region. The range extends from Portugal and Spain north to southern and western France, east to western Italy, and south to northern Morocco, with small outlying populations in Algeria and Malta (possibly introduced by man). It generally occurs at low to moderate altitudes, mostly from sea level to 600 m, but up to 2000 m in the south of its range in Morocco.
It is a medium-size tree, reaching 20-35 m tall and with a trunk diameter of up to 1.2 m, exceptionally 1.8 m. The bark is orange-red, thick and deeply fissured at the base of the trunk, somewhat thinner in the upper crown.
It is widely planted for timber in its native area, being one of the most important trees in forestry in France, Spain and Portugal; the largest man-made forest in the world, at Les Landes in southwest France, is composed of this species. It is also a popular ornamental tree, often planted in parks and gardens in areas with warm temperate climates. It has become naturalized in parts of southern England, South Africa and Australia. It is a serious pest in parts of South Africa, where it is called the cluster pine.
Here's a pic from the same website from where I sourced the above.
http://www.seedman.com/image/sec153.jpg
BTW, is there something written in the bottom right area of pic #2?
Don.......

[kierdan]

Adding on to NHB:
The Maritime Pine (Pinus pinaster) is a pine native to the western Mediterranean region. The range extends from Portugal and Spain north to southern and western France, east to western Italy, and south to northern Morocco, with small outlying populations in Algeria and Malta (possibly introduced by man). It generally occurs at low to moderate altitudes, mostly from sea level to 600 m, but up to 2000 m in the south of its range in Morocco.
It is a medium-size tree, reaching 20-35 m tall and with a trunk diameter of up to 1.2 m, exceptionally 1.8 m. The bark is orange-red, thick and deeply fissured at the base of the trunk, somewhat thinner in the upper crown.
It is widely planted for timber in its native area, being one of the most important trees in forestry in France, Spain and Portugal; the largest man-made forest in the world, at Les Landes in southwest France, is composed of this species. It is also a popular ornamental tree, often planted in parks and gardens in areas with warm temperate climates. It has become naturalized in parts of southern England, South Africa and Australia. It is a serious pest in parts of South Africa, where it is called the cluster pine.
Here's a pic from the same website from where I sourced the above.
http://www.seedman.com/image/sec153.jpg
BTW, is there something written in the bottom right area of pic #2?
Don.......

Probably where they carved the words Hen feathers

[DCMatt]

Hen Feathers is a maker of artsy garden stuff.

That's what you have - an artsy garden box. Is it brass?

DCMatt

[Angelo]

I believe DCMatt has it!

Here's a link of a box by Hen Feathers.

http://www.tias.com/402/PictPage/435395.html

Tony