Description

The Chinese-takeout container, with its Japanese-influenced origami folds, is a uniquely American invention. In 1894, Chicago inventor Frederick Weeks Wilcox patented the “paper pail,” which was a single piece of paper, creased into segments and folded into a container. It was 1973 when a young graphic designer working for a national packaging company added a Chinese pagoda with ‘Thank You’ in red ink to the previously plain white containers that changed the look of take out forever. Later, ‘Enjoy’ would be tagged on as an option and the design would be replicated on bags and other containers used by Chinese restaurants for their takeout orders, though don’t expect to find these boxes in China, as these are strictly a North American thing.