Storybook Waste Bin or Box?!

Oakland, where i live, is home to the 'Storybook Style' of architecture. It was very popular in the 30s and 40s around here. I think that this bin or box is from then and has a lot of attributes from Storybook. the natural-looking worn wood facets [?], the oversize copper round-head nails which make me want to pound them all in! i wonder if it was meant to be black though? i think it may have been natural wood w/ the copper nails when it was made and it was painted black at some point. ??