Chinoiserie Cigar Boxes and Humidors

Rectangular form with nickel plated mounts with door marked on inside " Porcelain Cigar Case" Made by Wilke Mfg Co, Anderson Indiana.

Stunning Black Forest Brienz wood carved wall cabinet. Made in Germany in the 1880s or older. Some color spots, also some old repairs to the wood and a new...

Silver plated, art-deco humidor featuring reproductions of the famous Bassae Frieze which depicts a battle between the Trojans and the Amazons.

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...

Antique 19th jewellery hand painted porcelain box with flowers aprox 1880 hand painted in yellow porcelaine Perfect gift for decoration ...

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...

This Humidor Games Box is a monumental piece. Features like Brass mounts surround the box, whilst Brass handles feature on either side, matched with the Bras...

Hand Carved Stone Box with Asian Motif - the perfect little box for 420, paperclips, rubber bands... or next to the bed, guest room or side table...

Simple and elegant antique jewelry box with inlaid wood top, circa 1930s. The piece is more of a decorative item than functional; the top opens u...

Good quality mid century silver plated box with inset bamboo to the lid Most probably a box for playing cards but could be used for any purpose. made in Italy in the 1970s

A simple hinged wooden box with carving. The box would be ideal for 420, notes, recipes, or on the desk to hold paper clips, rubber bands, etc. or on the nightstand. A beautiful ...

Arts & Crafts Wine Cave with Decorative Metal Work, circa 1920s Box from the Arts & Crafts period, Made in France A very special item with decorative metal work on top. Definitely o...