Poker work was made using a hot metal point and as it was applied to the wood, a mark was made where the wood had burned. It was a laborious hand process, and took a lot longer than most other kinds of line decoration, and therefore, each piece is unique. The box has a fall front, with shelves for paper or letters, and is dated 1904. The wood is probably birch, similar to what you find in Mauchlinware.