Chinese Studded Nanmu Lock Box, c. 1800
Located in Chicago, IL
A special place for storing jewelry and other treasures, this early 19th-century lock box was created by a skilled artisan in China's Jiangsu province.
Brass
Provincial Chinese Wooden Lock Box, Early 20th Century
Located in Chicago, IL
Dated to the early 20th century, the wooden lock box would have been used to store money and valuables, perhaps as a portable safe for merchants and travelers.
Wood
Antique Chinese Elaborately Relief Carved Glove Box W/ Original Hinges and Lock
Located in Norton, MA
Chinese elaborately Relief carved glove box with original hinges and lock, no key, no damage or cracks, 9 ¾” w. x 3 ¾” d x 3” h.
Zitan
Qing Dynasty Period Chinese Box with Brass Lock, Banding and Removable Top
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Qing Dynasty period Chinese old box from the 19th century with traditional etched brass hardware, metal banding, partially removable top and light patina. Immerse yourself in the r...
Brass
Qing Dynasty Square Box with Brass Lock and Distressed Lacquer Interior
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Chinese Qing Dynasty period square shaped box from the 19th century with brass lock, metal hardware and distressed lacquer interior.
Brass
Late Qing Dynasty Document Box with Brass Lock and Carrying Handles
Located in Yonkers, NY
Created in China during the late Qing Dynasty period in the early years of the 20th century, this wooden document box features a domed lid opening thanks to a traditional brass lock ...
Brass
Antique Chinese Export Silver Locking Box by Heng Li, Circa 1890
By Heng Li
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
This exceptional antique Chinese Export Silver (CES) locking box has a rectangular form.
Sterling Silver
19th Century Chinese Lock Box
Located in Chicago, IL
A special place to store jewelry, collected finds, love letters or even the everyday office supply, this lock box from Jiangsu province dates from circa 1850. Made of cedar, the box ...
Cedar
19th Century Chinese Lock Box Stool
Located in Chicago, IL
A 19th century Chinese elmwood convex-form low stool with lid carved with meandering motif and brass escutcheon.
Elm
Chinese Red Lacquer Treasure Box, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
This 19th-century Chinese lock box beautifully displays its age with a richly worn lacquer finish and faded gilt decoration.
Brass
19th Century Chinese Elegant Huali Lock Box
Located in Chicago, IL
With clean lines and simple form, this refined 19th century lock box celebrates the beauty of huali wood, a rosewood valued highly for its abstract patterning and shimmering surface....
Brass
Chinese Export Rose Wood, Brass Koi Lock Box
Located in New York, NY
Box lined in paper with chinese characters.
Brass
Antique Chinese Red Lacquer Lock Box, 19th Century
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique 19th C Chinese red lacquer lock box. This lovely box dates to the 19th century and features gilt decorated Chinese emblems and butterflies.
Lacquer
Chinese Octagonal Storage Box
Located in Astoria, NY
The dimensions for the Chinese hardwood octagonal locking storage box are as follows: Height: 13.5" Width: 9.5" Depth: 9.5"
Metal
Chinese Antique Black Lacquered Decorative Box with Brass Lock and Conic Lid
Located in Yonkers, NY
An antique Chinese unusually shaped black lacquered box from the early 20th century, with brass lock and conic lid.
Wood
Asian Brass Mounted Rosewood Jewelry Box with Lock and Key
Located in Germantown, MD
This is a Chinese jewelry box that is made out of rosewood with beautiful Chinoiserie brass trim. It is a nice heavy box that measures 13”W x 8”L x 5 1/2”H. The top layer inside hold...
Brass
Chinese Cultural Revolution Lock Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Painted red box with worker's motif. Hinged lid with handles and front clasp for a lock. Unpainted wood interior with mirror on the inside of the lid.
Sold
H 9 in W 16.75 in D 10 in
19th-20th Century Red Leather Chinese Lacquered Chinoiserie Box, Brass Lock
Located in Atlanta, GA
19th-20th century red leather Chinese lacquered chinoiserie box, brass lock.
Brass
Late 19th Century Chinese Lacquered Leather Opium Box with Lock and Key
Located in Evergreen, CO
A brown mahogany leather case of a type that was used throughout Asian countries for storing opium and opium smoking accessories. With the original brass lock and key featuring a typ...
Brass
Late Qing Dynasty Wood and Brass Lidded Box with Lateral Handles
Located in Yonkers, NY
A late Qing Dynasty Chinese wooden box from the early 20th century with brass hardware and lateral handles. Immerse yourself in the rich cultural history of China with this wooden bo...
Brass
From mere trinkets to useful receptacles that serve a distinct purpose, antique boxes as decorative objects have come in many forms over the years. No matter what they’re made of or where they end up in your home, decorative boxes add both style and storage to your space.
The decorative box that is likely most common is the jewelry box. These boxes were originally known as jewel caskets and were in common use in Ancient Egypt, as most Egyptians wore some sort of jewelry. A portable jewelry box, in its original intended use, was integral to keeping your jewelry safe and secure. This accessory has transformed in size, shape and appearance over the years. Initially it was common for a jewelry box to bear intricate ornamentation. Whether they’re mid-century modern works of marble and brass or feature playful Art Deco–style geometric decor, jewelry boxes boast real staying power.
Snuff boxes began to soar in popularity during the 17th century (and were commonplace in European homes by the mid-19th century). The boxes, some hand-painted with landscape scenes, some made from gold, porcelain or stone, contained a small amount of tobacco, which users would sniff, or “snuff,” throughout the day. Some particularly ornamental snuff boxes featured enameled designs or were set with precious gems and were given as gifts or party favors, particularly at the coronation of royalty or other lavish events.
Whether you’re organizing important mail in the foyer or tucking away medications in your bathroom, antique boxes — be they metal tea caddies, sterling-silver decorative boxes or Victorian cigar boxes made of oak (even if you don’t smoke) — are a sophisticated solution to help keep the surfaces in your home clutter-free. And no matter if you’re seeking a decorative box to beautify a desktop or bestow upon a loved one, you are sure to find something you love in the collection of antique and vintage boxes on 1stDibs.
The French sculptor shaped dense blocks into tactile forms meant to be used and held.
After synthetic dyes changed fashion, home goods and printed matter, it was only a matter of time till glass caught up.
The brilliantly simple design turns a modest bouquet into a major statement.
The Greek tragedian is said to have been handsome in his day.
Even for those who don’t indulge, elegant smoking accessories and audacious art portraying cigar enthusiasts hold a nostalgic allure.
It’s an excellent example of the sought-after ceramics coming out of South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province.
Thanks to its new leadership, the Spanish maker of figurines, busts and lighting is on a mission to update the art of porcelain for the 21st century.
The free-form stoneware piece is inspired by the magnolia tree and its associations with home.