This item is an 18th century patch box made of enameled metal. During this time, smallpox was very prevalent, leading many women to have scars on their faces. To hide these scars, it became the fad to wear small patches of an oilcloth-like material cut in the shapes of stars, hearts, etc. They were affixed to the face with a sticky substance. When not in use, the patches were kept in these small boxes, often with appropriate sayings on them. This patch box measures 1 by 1 1/2 inches.