Wang Hing & Co. Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

A beautiful Singing bird box by bontems of Paris, Circa 1900. Tortoisesheel embellished with sterling silver, with silver and enamel lid.

Offered is a stunning Sheffield silver keepsake box dating to 1900, with associated hallmark. This small box includes a clean interior and rounded corners. The box is free of names or initials, but would have been used to house keepsakes such as jewelry or cufflinks. A well maintained, elegant piece, this antique silver box is an excellent addition to any silver collection. Trinket or keepsake boxes have taken on many forms since their first conception in ancient times. However their purpose remains the same; to store jewelry and other items precious to the owner. Originally, these boxes were used specifically for jewelry. These were in common use as early as 5000 BC in Ancient Egypt, when the majority of Egyptians, both male and female, wore jewelry. Boxes were used to keep these gemstone encrusted items safe. In Ancient Rome, jewelry was a status symbol. Rings and brooches were utilized to represent ones status in society. Again, boxes were needed for security and storage purposes. Finding early examples of these are quite rare. Victorian and Edwardian examples of trinket boxes are far more common. This is because owning jewellery was a luxury until the Victorian era- let alone possessing so much a box was needed to store it all. Fine jewelry and other items became available to the masses after the industrial revolution due to the reduction in production costs. This led to a demand for trinket boxes, which were much smaller than jewelry boxes and therefore better suited to the needs of the middle class who did not yet possess an abundance of jewelry. In Victorian households, collectables and other items of interested were also stashed inside these boxes. This is why they are known as trinket or keepsake boxes, rather than just jewelry boxes, although of course jewelry was also stored in them. Trinket boxes were produced in large numbers around this time. Many were lined with colored plush or velvet or rich wood. More elaborate designs had interior divisions and trays for rings and other pieces of jewellery. It was also common to see trinket boxes so small that they could only contain one item, such as a single ring. Ornate exteriors were created to reflect the value of the trinket boxes contents. The Edwardian era saw the introduction of new styles of trinket box. These included small circular or oblong boxes...

Old Chinese Opium Box in Cloisonné Enamel, decorated with Vases and Flowers. French Private Collection

Iconic Tiffany & Co. sterling silver 925 box. Beautifully hand engraved design and detailing on top and sides and center with initialed monogram: KGR. Approx. dimensions: 5.50” l x 1...

Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this rather lovely antique original circa 1880-1900 French made Pagoda top Chinese shop cigar box A very go...

An elegant and functional antique circa 1900 English flame mahogany jewelry box by esteemed furniture maker Maple & Co. The interior is fitted with spring green velvet and ample stor...

A small and lovely Chinese black ground cloisonne box with peony design, late Qing Dynasty, circa 1900, China. The small cloisonne box raised on four bun feet, and decorated with a design of blossoming peony against a black enamel ground inlaid with geometric wire work in the "wan" pattern. The large blooms of peony depicted in pleasing shades of red, pink, and yellow enamel, with leaves of dark and light green enamel. The colored enamels pop against the black cloisonne...

An absolutely stunning large antique Viennese sterling silver pill box made from a hefty gauge of Austrian silver. All sides are decorated with a white guilloche enamel showcasing...

An absolutely lovely Chinese export pink Canton enamel round stacking box and cover, late Qing Dynasty, circa 1900, China. The circular stacking box consists of a bowl form base, ...

A stunning antique Japanese silver jewelry or keepsake box intricately designed and handcrafted, circa 1900s. Double skinned body, sides and lid are embossed in high-relief with wa...

Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this exquisite Kut Hing Chinese Pewter & Mahogany carved and embossed jewellery trinket box A good look...

This offer is for one of our rare Majolica items, an exceptional tobacco box pot or jar out of the sack series by Johann Maresch from the beginning of the 20th century. The beautiful...