Knot Box

The term knot casket or knot box derives from an old Frisian custom for proposing marriage. A young man would tie silver coins loosely in an embroidered linen cloth. Carrying this ‘knotting cloth’, he would walk past the young lady who had caught his eye. The clinking of the coins in the cloth would give the woman some idea as to whether the man had the means to look after her. If she agreed to the match, she would tighten the knot. If she did not, the man could go on his way without losing too much face. In wealthy and aristocratic families the knotting cloth would be replaced by a miniature silver casket or box—the knot box.  As the box was proffered, the young man would recite this little verse:

Wotte ? sa wotte
Sa heste de knotte
Wost it net dwaen
Den kinst my de knotte werjaen

Will you?—If you will 
Then keep the knotting cloth 
If you will not 
You must give the knot back to me

This gave the lady in question far more say in the matter than had previously been customary. For centuries a woman was the property of a man throughout her life, belonging first to her father and later to her husband. Old matrimonial laws record how the price for the transfer of ownership of a young woman could be arrived at. Gradually, however, women were given more say in the choice of their marriage partner, even though marriages were still arranged. What had been a selling price became the bride’s dowry.
Most knot boxes are rectangular and take the form of a miniature wedding casket with a domed lid. The little box was valuable in its own right, as it is made of silver—like the coins that would be placed in it.