Nepalese Decorative Boxes

Inlay wooden box crafted of natural materials.

Charming Italian box with Cherubs and Rococo decorations perfect for jewelry or other collectables. This box features intricate baroque and Rococo detailing including cherubs on the ...

This is a light blue Wedgwood heart shaped small lidded box. The top of its lid is decorated with a Greek or Roman relief scene of a woman with a cape co...

A scarce fine quality antique silver-inlaid solid brass betel nut box (Lutuan), dating to the second half of the 19th / early 20th century, hand-crafted in Mindanao, Philippines. Boxes such as this were used to store the areca nut (also known as the betel nut) which would be wrapped in a betel leaf with lime paste and other ingredients, often tobacco, for chewing. Similar to the European tea caddy, these boxes often served as a way to impress while showing off ones wealth. Betel chewing was prevalent in the southern Philippines as in much of the rest of Southeast Asia. Wealthier Maranao families on Mindanao were able to afford elaborate silver-inlaid brass betel boxes such as this example. Such boxes were used to show off to guests and from which they were offered betel and the other component such as leaves and lime to make up the betel quid. Rare large size, most extant examples of such boxes tend to measure around 5 inches in length. At slightly more than 7.75 inches the example here is larger than most. The distinctive decorative box features a very heavy strong-box like rectangular shaped chest form with canted corners, copper handles, and a conforming hinged lid, lifting open to reveal an interior divided into three compartments covered by four hinged lids. Each of these doors is inlaid with silver in stylized orchid flower patterns. Exceptionally executed throughout, the arabesque silver inlaid exterior is decorated to the top with a large orchid motif within scrolling obid-obid (stylized rope) borders. The front, back and sides are inlaid with sets of stylized tail feathers of the sari-manok bird beneath which are unusual, highly stylized whimsical zoomorphic faces that appear like cat or tiger faces. (Such stylisation is accounted for by Southeast Asian Islamic preferences to avoid the overt and this potentially idolatrous representation of animal and human forms. Designs such as these are drawn from a local design repertoire that has its origins in wood carving. Although the spread of Islam in the Philippines began in the 14th century, mostly through the influence of Muslim merchants from the western Malay Archipelago, decorative arts in this design remain exceptionally rare. This lutuan represents a fine example of Islamic metalwork from the most eastern outreach of Islamic art and civilisation: Mindanao island being significantly further east than even China – artwork from Islamic Southeast Asia remains chronically under-represented in the world’s major collections of Islamic art. PROVENANCE / ACQUISITION Acquired from highly reputable auction house, Austin Auction Gallery, established 1983, Austin, Texas. References Brownrigg, H., Betel Cutters...

Mid-Century Modern hinged box veneered in fine Onyx stone, Spain, 1950s. This exquisite vintage 1950s rectangular box is all constructed with onyx and features a brass hinge. This tr...

A beautiful white porcelain hand painted egg-shaped box from luxury maker HEREND, Hungary, circa 20th century. This Herend white porcelain egg-shaped box ...

An exquisite silver-plated hinged box adorned with Malachite, Lapis Lazuli, and Turquoise. Crafted by the renowned Los Castillos in Taxco, Mexico. The box features intricate figural ...

Immaculately crafted from the 20th century, this Silvered Filigree Box exhibits the skill of fine craftsmanship and gemstone mastery. This breathtaking piece is exquisitely adorned w...

A 1950s Murano green opaline jewellery box by Cendese with gilt metal edging. There are other available colours and designs under other listings.

A highly decorative vintage Chinese red painted stacking picnic box and carrier, painted in the Tibetan style, circa 1990's, China. The large painted and textured wood picnic box and carrier comprised of three trays or boxes, and one lid, all housed in a handled carrier. The red painted boxes and cover stack. A large roundel design of a golden dragon face within a cloud collar...

Italian designer Gabriella Crespi (1922 - 2017) created this exquisite silver plate sewing box in the 1970s. The streamlined egg-shaped opens in two with an almost complete interior ...

An asian wood and brass jewelry box. Dark red mahogany colored wood with with brass drawer pulls and decorative accents. Two doors open to reveal thr...