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Boxes For Sale
Style: Art Nouveau
Style: Empire
Art Nouveau Enameled Glass Jewelry Box, 1900s
Located in Lisbon, PT
This delicate French Art Nouveau enameled glass jewelry box features hand-painted cherry fruits and leafy branches, capturing the romantic elegance of the early 20th century.
Craft...
Category
20th Century French Art Nouveau Boxes
Materials
Brass, Enamel
Antique Art Nouveau Novelty Oak Cigar Trunk Humidor
Located in Northampton, GB
Modelled as a Trunk
From our Boxes collection, we are delighted to offer this antique Novelty Oak Cigar Trunk Humidor. The Humidor of novelty form shaped as a travel trunk made from...
Category
1910s Art Nouveau Vintage Boxes
Materials
Brass
Mahogany Tea Caddy Wooden Casket Box w Antique Glass Empire early 19th century
Located in Sweden, SE
Rectangular shape mahogany veneered casket made in first half of 19th century presumably in Europe. Cast glass vessels are intact at their original place. Candy sugar bowl along with...
Category
Mid-19th Century Empire Antique Boxes
Materials
Glass, Cut Glass, Mahogany
19th Century Jewelry Box With Floral Inlay Works & Original Mirror, AT ca. 1890
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Charming, late 19th century jewelry box from the period in Austria around 1890. This real beautiful designed ebonized wooden box impresses with its extraordinary inlay works showing ...
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Boxes
Materials
Birch, Fruitwood
Art Nouveau Rectangular Silver Plate Jewelry Box, France
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
This French rectangular silver box is heavily decorated in the typical styles of this Art Nouveau period. The box has vintage red velvet interior and the original hardware with a wor...
Category
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Boxes
Materials
Silver Plate
Antique 19th Century French Art Nouveau Pierced Gilt Bronze Jewelry Box
Located in Firenze, IT
This lavish French Art Nouveau period (1880-1910) jewelry box is entirely chiseled, hammered and pierced with flowers and leaf patterns. This late 19th – early 20th century rectangul...
Category
Late 19th Century French Art Nouveau Antique Boxes
Materials
Bronze
Genuine Italian Pink Carved Alabaster or Opaline Decorative Trinket Box, Italy
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A lovely hand-carved round Italian alabaster or opaline glass trinket box in pink. This piece will be fabulous to display on a coffee table or dressing table. The exterior is a peach...
Category
20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Boxes
Materials
Alabaster
Antique 19th Century French Metal Jewelry Box with Cherub and Birds
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This 19th Century French metal jewelry box features enchanting cherub and bird motifs. Reflecting the ornate elegance of the era, it captures the ess...
Category
19th Century French Art Nouveau Antique Boxes
Materials
Metal
Egg White with blue garlands in Russian Art Nouveau style Sterling Silver Salimb
Located in Firenze, FI
Egg White with blue garlands is in 925/1000 sterling silver.
Egg White with blue garlands has fired enamels on guilloché and design engraved by hand.
Egg White with blue garlands i...
Category
1960s Italian Empire Vintage Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Table Box floral miniature fire-enameled on guilloche and stripes Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Oval table box in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with fired enamel, with fine floral miniature fire-enamelled on guilloche, enamelled edge with vertical stripes. Viennese Art N...
Category
1960s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver, Enamel, Gold Plate
Art Nouveau Celtic Hound Casket Repoussé Box by Alfred Daguet
Located in Chicago, US
Note: We highly recommend shipping through 1stDibs for its cost effectiveness, full insurance coverage, and reliable handling. While standard parcel services are an option, the defau...
Category
Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Boxes
Materials
Brass, Enamel, Steel
19th Century French Boulle Sewing Scent Necessaire Box
Located in Bradenton, FL
Beautiful 19th Century French Empire ebonized black and Boulle Sewing Scent Necessaire Box with bronze appliquès and paw feet. Top features red, bronze and white colored floral motif with a monogram plate of what probably was the original owner's initials. Interior has cream colored toile lining and compartments for sewing implements, many of which are included. Inner top is mirrored with ornamental gilt...
Category
19th Century French Empire Antique Boxes
Materials
Wood
French Antique Etched and Faceted Crystal Lidded Boxes with Bronze Ormolu, Pair
Located in Doylestown, PA
Pair of French antique etched and faceted cut crystal lidded boxes with ormolu mounts, c. early 20th century.
Gorgeous gilt bronze mounted boxes with intricately etched crystal of f...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Boxes
Materials
Crystal, Bronze, Ormolu
An Art Nouveau Metal and Art Glass French Biscuit Box
Located in Catania, Sicilia
This Art Nouveau French biscuit box is a striking example of the elegance and craftsmanship characteristic of the Art Nouveau movement. The biscuit box typically features a metal bas...
Category
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Boxes
Materials
Metal
Art Nouveau Satin Lined Jewelry Box with/ Portrait on Cover
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Art Nouveau Jewelry Pink Satin Lined Box, the woman is depicted with flowers in her hair and pink cheeks.
Box has Evidence of wear over time, ...
Category
1910s American Art Nouveau Vintage Boxes
Materials
Wood
Antique Majolica Tobacco Jar Munich Child in Hofbrauhaus Keg, Germany 1890s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This offer is for an antique figural tobacco jar featuring the Munich Child on a keg from Munich's famous Hofbrauhaus. The jar reads "Tabak" (german fo...
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Boxes
Materials
Majolica
Russian USSR Made Black and Red Lacquered Snuff Box, Signed and Dated
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Rectangular Black and Red Lacquered Snuff Box, Signed and Dated 1971.
This tobacco snuff box is richly and colorfully decorated with a winter scene showing 3 people riding a sleigh in the snow being pulled by 3 wild horses.
This Soviet-era box has a strong and great condition red lacquer on the inside and fine gilded decorations running around the edges of the box.
The box is signed and dated on the front cover and with hand-written "Made in USSR...
Category
Mid-20th Century Russian Empire Boxes
Materials
Brass
Erhard & Sohne Art Nouveau Jewelry Box Casket, Germany, c. 1905
Located in London, GB
A beautiful art nouveau casket made by Erhard and Sohne in Germany in c. 1905.
The casket is exquisitely executed with foliate detailing, made in th...
Category
Early 20th Century German Art Nouveau Boxes
Materials
Brass
Art nouveau jewelry box
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Art nouveau jewelry box
Art nouveau jewelry box
Materials: bronze, double-celled glass, enamel and procelain palaca
Origin France Circa 1920
Uphols...
Category
1920s French Art Nouveau Vintage Boxes
Materials
Crystal, Bronze, Enamel
Large 19th Century Continental Neoclassical Between Dresser Vanity Box
Located in Lambertville, NJ
An extensively filled 19th century ormolu-mounted ebonized wood dresser vanity box fitted with silver gold washed lidded glass gars and sewing tools. The ...
Category
1880s European Empire Antique Boxes
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century Brown-Black German Small Empire Iron Coffer, Antique Table Decor
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A dark-brown, black antique German coffer made of hand crafted iron, particularized with griffins, torchères and tendril motifs on the wall and pinecone mode on the lid, in good condition. The small detailed decor piece represents the Empire time period...
Category
Early 19th Century German Empire Antique Boxes
Materials
Metal, Iron
An Empire Period Ormolu Mounted Russian Opaline Crystal Covered Box
Located in New York, NY
A Fantastic Empire Period Early 19th Century Ormolu Mounted Russian Opaline Crystal Covered Box. Of cylindrical form the highly translucent opalescent or opaline crystal is truly ma...
Category
1810s Russian Empire Antique Boxes
Materials
Ormolu
Vintage Italian Music Box Footed Wooden Inlaid Jewelry Box Made in Italy
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Italian large footed music box in pink color with top finely hand painted and wood inlaid with Italian lute and foliages floral decor, brass hardware, 2 compartiment inside a...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Boxes
Materials
Wood
Art Nouveau Canine Repoussé Box by Alfred Daguet
Located in Chicago, US
Alfred Louis Achille DAGUET (1875 - 1942) was a metalsmith active in Paris during the first part of the 20th century. His metalwork created prior to the outbreak of World War I, note...
Category
Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Boxes
Materials
Brass, Steel
19th Century Danish Box Circa 1880
Located in Atlanta, GA
This exquisite 19th-century Danish box, dating to circa 1880, showcases the elegance and craftsmanship of the era. Made from warm walnut wood, the box features a finely inlaid floral...
Category
19th Century Danish Art Nouveau Antique Boxes
Materials
Walnut
Loetz Biscuit Barrel Cookie Jar Art Nouveau Iridescent Glass Antique Lötz & WMF
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
A lovely Art Nouveau biscuit barrel, made of iridescent art glass with a combed pattern made by Loetz Wwe. with a brass mount by WMF which w...
Category
Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Boxes
Materials
Silver Plate, Brass
Cigar Box with Fine Fine Miniature Alphons Mucha's "Amethyst" Poster Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Rectangular rounded cigar box with vertical opening in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with fine miniature hand-painted in tempera on vegetable iv...
Category
1970s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver
Daum Nancy bonbonnière "Pansies" circa 1898
By Daum
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Daum Nancy bonbonnière "Pansies" circa 1898
A "Pansies" Opalescent glass bonbonniere with a hand-painted polychromatic enameled decor gold highlighted on an acid frosted background
D...
Category
1890s French Art Nouveau Antique Boxes
Materials
Art Glass
Table Cigar Box two-tone stripes enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
This divine Table Box is in 925/1000 sterling silver.
Table Box hand-painted miniature has a Rectangular shape with rounded corners.
On the cover there is a beautiful hand-engraved...
Category
1970s Italian Empire Vintage Boxes
Materials
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Small silvered jugendstil box with cut glass germany around 1910s
Located in Wien, AT
Small silvered jugendstil box with cut glass germany around 1910s
Very hight quality manufacture
Very beautiful and fine glass cut work
Category
1920s German Jugendstil Vintage Boxes
Materials
Brass
Pill Box White Enamel Art Nouveau style Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Round rounded pillbox in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamel on guillochè and hand-painted floral miniature on the lid. Viennese Art Nouveau style. Dia...
Category
1970s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Early 20th Century Russian Silver 84 Clutch Purse with Horses Moscow
Located in San Mateo, CA
Russian silver clutch or evening purse. This has repousse horse heads with outstanding detail in the left corner. The clutch is .875 fine silver. There is a glass cabochon for the cl...
Category
1910s Russian Art Nouveau Vintage Boxes
Materials
Silver
Late 19th-Early 20th Century Ottoman Empire Silver Jewelry Casket
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Late 19th-early 20th century Ottoman Empire Grand Scale Silver Jewelry Casket. Velvet lining; with a presentation case. 900 standard silver guarantee hallmark, SK mark unidentified, ...
Category
Early 20th Century Turkish Empire Boxes
Materials
Silver
Art Nouveau Lithographed Candy Cookie Tin Box Advertising Vintage German, 1910s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Large antique German cough drop candy advertising tin. Beautiful decoration piece, nice addition to your kitchen or just to display in every room.
Category
1910s German Art Nouveau Vintage Boxes
Materials
Tin
Small Square Brass Box With Angel Insignia, America Early 20th Century
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Small Square Brass Box With Angel Insignia, America Early 20th Century. This Empire style box makes a wonderful addition to a collection of these classic brass boxes. This box is ve...
Category
Early 20th Century American Empire Boxes
Materials
Brass
Art Nouveau Alpaca Matchstick Case, Vintage Austria, Monogram J.P.
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Art Nouveau matchstick holder case by an Austrian manufacturer. Silver plated alpaca. with makers mark, year around 1910s or older. With J.P. monogram. Some minor dings and...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Boxes
Materials
Silver Plate
Art Nouveau Box, Hand Painted, France Circa 1920
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This box is in wood. It is Hand painted, in black and green, color. It has been made in France circa 1920.
Category
1920s French Art Nouveau Vintage Boxes
Materials
Wood
Fine Josef Hoffman Wiener Werkstätte Art Nouveau box Austria 1912
Located in Vienna, AT
Fine and distinguished box, designed by the “Hero” of the Wiener Werkstatte, Josef Hoffmann. Made of nickel plated brass, leaves and stars in the pattern. This box is not marked, but...
Category
1910s Austrian Jugendstil Vintage Boxes
Materials
Brass, Nickel
Rectangular Art Nouveau Bronze Wood Jewelry Trinket Box
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Sturdy rectangular hinged trinket box featuring an Art Nouveau woman wearing a peacock dress. This box is super charming and functional for displaying or containing jewelry or other ...
Category
Mid-20th Century North American Art Nouveau Boxes
Materials
Metal, Brass, Bronze
Gorgeous Cathedral Cologne Souvenir Trinket Jewelry Box Antique, German, 1950s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful souvenir trinket box made of metal. A beautiful nice addition to your vanity room.
Category
1950s German Art Nouveau Vintage Boxes
Materials
Metal
Pill Box Fired Enamel with Hand Painted Horse Head Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Rounded square pill box in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with white fired enamel, above and below, with hand painted horse head. Dimensions cm. 5.2 x 5.2 x 2.3. Weight gr. 117. Designed by Franco Salimbeni in 1966 on the inspiration of previous artefacts made in the English Art Nouveau style of the early 1900s and manufactured in the Salimbeni company headquarters in Florence in numerous specimens also with different subjects, with completely manual execution by artisan artists with a slab of high thickness suitable for supporting numerous enamelled firings at around 800°C.
Miniature is a very ancient technique which consists of painting works in small proportions.
It was born for the decoration of the first letter of the paragraph of the books.
Over the years, however, this technique is refined and enriched, then moving on to precious personal items.
Hand-painted miniatures can be done with multiple different techniques.
The most important that we use on our articles are of three kinds:
1) Fire enamel.
2) Water tempera on an ivory plate.
3) Painted on mother-of-pearl.
Fire enameled miniatures:
On a first layer of enamel generally white or very clear or even transparent suitably liquefied at a temperature of about 750 ° C, the chosen subject is painted using miniature colors which are as many colored crystals, ground and reduced to a very fine, almost impalpable powder washed and purified in distilled water with the addition of small quantities of deoxidizing acids which, diluted with essential oils (usually essential oil of solder), can be mixed to form a palette of colors.
With very fine sable hair brushes you draw the subject starting from the perimeter and then gradually adding various layers of color.
It is necessary to carry out various firings very often so that the colors harden and are not absorbed by the underlying glaze as, during the subsequent firings at 750 ° C, during liquefaction, it would spread irremediably. Hence the need to form the painting a little at a time, cooking it numerous times.
Therefore it is necessary to proceed with numerous retouching, often overlapping different colors that only the painter's experience knows. A beautiful miniature needs from 20 to over 50 firings and is finished when the painter deems he does not have to further intervene.
Some colors must have darker tones than others because then, by superimposing the transparent enamel placed at the end of the miniature, they fade. This transparent layer, called “fondant” in jargon, must be smoothed and polished like all other translucent enamel colors.
The miniatures with water tempera colors are painted on real...
Category
1960s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver
Table Box blue and gold with handpainted miniature fire-enameled on guilloche Sa
Located in Firenze, FI
Octagonal table box in 800/1000 silver gold plated with translucent enamel on guilloché and beautiful enamel miniature hand painted by the painter Renato Dainelli in early 1900s Engl...
Category
1980s Italian Empire Vintage Boxes
Materials
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Portuguese Silver Filigree and Enamel Box with Gold Wash
Located in Stamford, CT
A silver trinket box with exquisite filigree work throughout, including the bottom and the feet. With white and red enamel decoration on the top and deep blue on the side. The delica...
Category
Early 20th Century Portuguese Art Nouveau Boxes
Materials
Silver
Antique French 19th Century Jewelry Box Flap Door Miniature Wood Cabinet
Located in Firenze, IT
This beautiful French late 19th century chest of drawers in black ebonized wood and cherrywood reproduces with perfect proportions in scale a miniature cabinet with three drawers and an upper flap door that opens to reveal a white marble top and an oval mirror inside, nice hand carved band on top with geometrical pattern and molded base.
The black lacquered wood creates a wonderful contrast with the beautiful honey-colored wood grain. Despite its convenient size, extremely detailed, this chest of drawers is equipped with a white Carrara marble top and a small mirror that make it even more special and useful.
The model of a piece of furniture was originally created by cabinet makers to show their skills to the customer and to present the sample of the furniture which would then have been produced on a larger scale. These commode miniatures, along with other specimens, were displayed in the craftsman's workshop to serve as examples to aid the potential client in making a selection. Some also think that these little chests were used as doll and puppets...
Category
Late 19th Century French Empire Antique Boxes
Materials
Carrara Marble, Metal
Box in Wood Art Nouveau France 1920, Signed
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This box is signed by a French artist: L.Maire. It has been made around 1920 in France. Typical of the Art nouveau style. It is in an excellent condition.
Category
1920s French Art Nouveau Vintage Boxes
Materials
Wood
Pocket Pill Box like Egg sea color Enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Pocket pill box shaped like a small egg.
Pocket pill box like egg hinged opening.
Pocket pill box like egg in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated 24ca...
Category
1960s Italian Empire Vintage Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Art Nouveau Owl Repoussé Box with Moonstones by Alfred Daguet
Located in Chicago, US
This piece features dozens semi-precious moonstones.
Alfred Louis Achille DAGUET (1875 - 1942) was a metalsmith active in Paris during the first part of the 20th century. His metalw...
Category
Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Boxes
Materials
Zinc
Art Nouveau Sea Battle Repoussé Box with Moonstones by Alfred Daguet
Located in Chicago, US
Daguet’s beautifully patinated box is a rich textural and colorful tour de force. The top of Daguet’s box is striking for its bird’s-eye-view of a crab clutching a viper eel. Using r...
Category
Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Boxes
Materials
Copper, Steel
Art Nouveau Majolica Barbotine Box Jar Pheasant on Basket by Sarreguemines
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
A hand-painted majolica lidded jar / box or tureen in the shape of a pheasant hen sitting on a basket, made by Sarreguemines around 1900. This beau...
Category
Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Boxes
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
Cigarette Case Hunting Dogs Miniature hand painted Sterling Silver Enamel
Located in Firenze, FI
Rectangular table cigarette box in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamels on guillochè and fine miniature hand painted...
Category
1980s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Jasperware Box with Greek-Key Design, Late 19th Century
By Wedgwood, John Flaxman
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful English jasperware box with acanthus leaf and Greek-Key design, circa late-19th century, England. Piece is attributed to Wedgwood and design...
Category
Late 19th Century English Empire Antique Boxes
Materials
Stoneware
19th Century French Empire Miniature Commode
Located in Winter Park, FL
A fine early 19th century French Empire miniature sample commode with four dovetailed drawers. Made of burl of walnut veneer with oak and pine as secondary woods. Working locks with ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Boxes
Small Egg style Faberge Enamel hand painted wreaths Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Small egg in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamel on guilloché and an hand-painted miniature of garlands in Russian Art Nouveau style, inspired by the e...
Category
1960s Italian Empire Vintage Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Enamel, Sterling Silver
Egg Purple Red enamel with tripod Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Egg Purple Red enamel is in 925/1000 sterling silver.
Egg Purple Red enamel has fired enamels on guilloché has fired enamels on guilloché and design engraved by hand.
Egg Purple Red...
Category
1960s Italian Empire Vintage Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Early 19th Century Miniature Writing Desk Jewelry Box
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
This vintage miniature wood box has six drawers and lots of character and patina. Some of the drawers are lined in faux marbleized paper. We see this wonderful piece being used to st...
Category
Early 19th Century European Empire Antique Boxes
Materials
Metal, Brass
19th Century Jewelry Box in Leather with Diamond Pattern
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Small Rectangular Leather Jewelry Box on small brass balls with diamond pattern.
Category
19th Century French Empire Antique Boxes
Materials
Brass
Egg “music box” mechanism by the Swiss Maison Reuge Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Egg “music box” is in 925/1000 sterling silver.
Egg “music box” has fired enamels on guilloché and design engraved by hand.
Egg “music box”on smooth tripod containing a “music box”...
Category
1960s Italian Empire Vintage Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Tiffany Studios New York Enameled Copper "Olive" Covered Box
Located in New York, NY
This Tiffany Studios New York covered box by Louis Comfort Tiffany, covered with an enamel "Olive" motif, was executed by the Enamelware Department of The Stonebridge Glass Company in New York. The stoic composition is primarily composed of richly enameled copper, with the cover and body of this rare piece sharing decoration of subtly-hued olives, with purple-brown copper branches and deep green leaves. While the rarity of the object itself makes it an incredibly collectible item, the easy beauty of the composition also makes it an instant treasure.
Artist: Tiffany Studios New York
Circa: 1905
Dimensions: 5.25" height, 6.5" diameter
Materials: Repoussé copper, Enamel and counter enamel
Signed: "Louis C. Tiffany and impressed SC 332"
Provenance: Parke-Bernet Galleries Inc., New York, Private Collection, circa 1965, thence by descent to the present owners
Literature: Box pictured in Behind the Scenes of Tiffany Glassmaking: The Nash Notebooks, by Martin Eidelberg and Nancy McClelland, New York, 2001, pp. 21 and 178 (for the model executed in pottery); Box also pictured in Louis C. Tiffany: The Garden Museum Collection, by Alastair Duncan, Woodbridge, Suffolk, 2004, p. 466 (for the model executed in pottery) and p. 471 (for the model executed in bronze pottery)
Category
Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Antique Boxes
Materials
Copper
Vintage, Mid-Century and Antique Boxes
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.