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Boxes For Sale
Period: 18th Century and Earlier
Period: 1990s
Very Rare 17th Century Charles II English Box
Located in Greenwich, CT
A very rare and desirable 17th century English oak box having moulded front and sides, original lock plate, drop pulls and bun feet, with superb color and patination. The box is made...
Category
18th Century and Earlier English Antique Boxes
Materials
Oak
18th Century South Staffordshire Writing Box
Located in Basildon, GB
An 18th Century South Staffordshire Writing Box, decorated with serpentine front, pink ground reserved with a riverscape panel, the interior retaining 3 glass jarlets with metal moun...
Category
18th Century English Rococo Antique Boxes
Materials
Enamel
Ebony Veneered Captain's Chest or Strong Box 'Coffre Fort', 17th Century
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A strongbox was a type of travelling chest and these types of boxes were more common in England than anywhere else where they were fabricated between 1660 and 1720. The earliest proo...
Category
Late 17th Century Dutch Dutch Colonial Antique Boxes
Materials
Brass
Harry Winston side opening ring box
Located in Braintree, GB
Harry Winston Ring Box.
Period: Late 20th century
Material: Blue leather exterior, dual compartments with white satin and velvet interior
Purpose: Designed for presenting and stor...
Category
1990s European Boxes
Materials
Leather
Rare Chinese Tonkin Ware Shakudo Sawasa Erotic Tobacco Box
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A ruyi-shaped Shakudo-style erotic tobacco or snuff box, relief-decorated with silvered applied figures
Possibly Jakarta (Batavia), first half 18th century
Measures: H. 2.2 x L. 12.1 x W. 8 cm
This box is very much in the Dutch taste, for the illustration is after a print with a legend reading “L’oiseau sans cage. Prenez, belle, mon oiseau. C’est le plus doux présent que je puisse vous faire. Pour les autres oiseaux, la cage d’ordinaire est une espèce de tombeau. Mais le mien semble prendre une nouvelle vie, Lorsqu’il sera dans la cage de mon aimable Silvie.” The erotic message is as clear as can be.
In Dutch culture the verb ‘vogelen’ (catching a bird) is another word for having sex and a bird escaping from his cage indicates loss of chastity. The lady with the bare breasts, while making the sign of sealed lips to the lady behind her, who is pointing towards heaven, seems to be caressing the bird held in the sleeping man’s groin. 17th century Dutch pictures...
Category
Early 18th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Boxes
Materials
Gold, Silver, Bronze
George II period rococo design tea caddy suite made in London 1739 by John Pero
By John Pero
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1739 by John Pero, this stunning suite of George II Period, Antique Sterling Silver Tea Caddies and Sugar Caddy, are in the Rococo taste, featuring flat chase...
Category
1730s English Rococo Antique Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver
Bible Box
Located in London, England
Oak bible box with sloped writing lid. Circa 1740.
H 26cm x W 66cm x D 46cm
Category
1740s British Antique Boxes
Materials
Oak
Pair of George III Cased Tea Caddies, London, 1793, William Frisbee
Located in London, GB
The Faulkbourne hall cased tea caddies. An important and very unusual pair of George III tea caddies made in London in 1793 by William Frisbee, all contained within a contemporary velvet and silk lined satinwood case. The hinges and handle also hallmarked for 1793.
The pair of tea caddies are of an unusual oval form with upwardly curved rim. The sides are beautifully engraved with an upper and lower band of bright cut scrolls and foliate motifs on a scratch engraved and prick dot ground. Each side is engraved with an unusual bright cut cartouche with incuse corners. One cartouche is vacant and the other is engraved with a contemporary Scottish Crest with the motto "Nil Conscrire Sibi - Consious of no Wrong " above. The curved, slightly domed, cover is engraved with an outer band identical to those shown on the sides and terminates in a Neo Classical urn finial, also engraved with bright cut designs. The caddies are most unusual as they open from the side, not in the usual manner from the front. The caddies are each in excellent condition and are fully marked in the foot and with the maker's mark and sterling mark on the cover.
The pair of caddies are contained within a most breathtaking satinwood case with hallmarked hinges and escutcheon shaped handle and reeded oval mounts. It is most unusual to find fully hallmarked hinges, and handle, which accurately date the case, as the same date as the caddies. The interior is lined with the original silk, velvet and gold braid.
The Crest and Motto are those of Lieut-Col Jonathan Bullock of Faulkbourne Hall, County Essex. He was M.P. for Essex in many parliaments and, in 1763, married Miss Elizabeth Lante. He died without issue in 1809 and his estates devolved upon his nephew Jonathan Joshua Christopher Watson who, in 1810, assumed the surname and Arms of Bullock by Royal Licence. The Bullock family were descended from Robert Bullock of Herburghfield, County Berkshire. He was Sheriff of County Berks and Oxford under Richard II. He died in 1405.
Faulkbourne Hall is a Grade 1 listed Manor House in the village of Faulkbourne in Essex, the manor being first mentioned under Edward the Confessor. The earliest surviving parts of the Hall, a red brick building with turrets, date from the 15th century. Sir Edward Bullock, Knight, purchased the Hall and Manor of Faulkbourne in 1637. The hall is considered a fine specimen of early Tudor red...
Category
1790s English George III Antique Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver
20th Century Italian 800/1000 Silver Jewelry box
Located in VALENZA, IT
The jewelry box is shiny with a hinged opening and resembles a trunk. Bands made with the casting technique and decorated with floral motifs have been welded onto the body and lid of...
Category
1990s Italian Other Boxes
Materials
Silver
Large Japanese Kazaribako Glass Box Ancient Captial Kyohei Fujita
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Kazaribako "Ornamented Box" made of glass by Japanese artist Kyohei Fujita (1921-2004) circa 1990s. The hand-blown glass box is substantial in size and weight. It features a hexago...
Category
1990s Japanese Modern Boxes
Materials
Silver
Antique Indo-Portuguese Table Cabinet
Located in Schellebelle, BE
Exceptional Indo-Portuguese table cabinet from the 17 th Century,
the rare Cabinet is in a very good condition, has a hinged front and has 8 drawers, b...
Category
17th Century Indian Antique Boxes
Materials
Rosewood
17th Century English Leather Covered Knife Box Converted To a Letter Box
Located in San Francisco, CA
17th century leather knife box converted to a letter box with original brass hardware, sitting on brass ball feet.
Fitted interior lined with 18th century silk fabric.
In very good...
Category
17th Century European Antique Boxes
Materials
Brass
A highly refined Dutch-colonial Sri Lankan inlaid box with silver mounts
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Galle district, 18th century
The box is made of amboyna burr with inlays of ebony, bone and burr wood and has several interior compartments, all made with the utmost attention to de...
Category
18th Century Sri Lankan Antique Boxes
Materials
Bone, Ebony, Amboyna
18th Century Welsh Strong Box with Carved Detail
Located in Atlanta, GA
18th Century Welsh strong box with carved detail.
Category
18th Century Welsh Antique Boxes
Materials
Wood
18-C English Bilston Battersea Enamel Memento Mori, Memory of a Friend Snuff Box
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An 18th century Georgian English Bilston Battersea enameled snuff or patch box, the motto reads, “In Memory of a Friend.” An example of Memento Mori, which translates from the Latin,...
Category
Late 18th Century English Georgian Antique Boxes
Materials
Copper
20th Century Italian Solid Silver Trunk-Shaped Box with Squirrel Knob
Located in VALENZA, IT
Solid silver 800 box the shape of a tree trunk. The feet are oak leaf and the knob depicts a squirrel on two oak leaves holding an acorn in his hands.
The hinged box is gold-plated ...
Category
1990s Italian Other Boxes
Materials
Silver
Chinese Picnic Box, c. 1750
Located in Chicago, IL
The basic form of this two-tiered box with handle has remained unchanged for 1,000 years. Stacked boxes were commonly used as portable containers for food or ...
Category
Mid-18th Century Chinese Qing Antique Boxes
Materials
Hardwood
18th century Chinese hard wood coffer chest
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Rare 18th century perhaps earlier hard wood coffer, circa 1790.
Presented in original un-restored condition. Original handles and metal work to outer edges.
Lid opens on ringed ha...
Category
Late 18th Century Chinese Qing Antique Boxes
Materials
Hardwood
Circa 1765 George III Period Tea Caddy Box, English
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1765 George III period tea caddy box, English. Small & complete example raised on original bracket feet. Mahogany. Original hardware & lock with key. Contains 2 original tin te...
Category
1760s English George III Antique Boxes
Materials
Tin
20th Century Italian Round Sterling Silver Jewelry Box
By Pampaloni
Located in VALENZA, IT
Round shape sterling silver jewelry box. The simplicity of the forms and the harmony of the proportions make it suitable for all settings.
The lid of the jewelry box has a knob hand...
Category
1990s Italian Other Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver
18th Century Dutch Oak Cartouche Shaped Box with Key
Located in Haarlem, NL
Very nice cartouche shaped 18th century oak plateau box with working lock and key.
Placed on 5 wooden feet.
Six compartments inside to keep little treasures safe.
Category
18th Century Dutch Antique Boxes
Materials
Oak
Japanese Lacquer Maki-E Scroll Box Fubako by Kansonsai Edo Period
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Japanese lacquered wood fubako (a box to store document or small scroll painting) circa late 18th century of Edo period. The rectangular box features a deep lid with rounded corners and recessed mid-edge and a lower box with two bronze medallion rings and tasseled silk ties. The surface of the fubako was elaborately decorated with hiramaki-e and a low takamaki-e on a mottled Mura-nashiji background. The motifs on the lid depict branches of Japanese pine with finely rendered needles on the lower part; on the upper part, it showcases fruited persimmon branches. Two different shades of gold fundame were used to contrast the design and augmented by scattered gold kirigane to highlight some of the leaves. The design continues and cascades down to all sides of the lid as well as the walls of the box. The two bronze medallions appear original to the box and the silk ties show significant fading from the age. This Fine fubako is signed on the lower wall "Kanshosai" in Kanji with a kao mark. All the trims were finished in gold fundame and the interiors a dense nashiji in gold.
Kanshosai is the mark of the distinguished lacquer artist Lizuka Toyo I who also signed his work "Toyosai". He was active in the second half of the 18th century during Edo period, employed by Hachisuka Shigeyoshi (1738-1801), daimyo of Awa on Shikoku Island. Although most survived work bearing his marks are inros, he was also known to decorated trays and other larger objects...
Category
Late 18th Century Japanese Edo Antique Boxes
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
Late 17th Century Leather And Brass Travelling Box
Located in Benington, Herts
A very fine and interesting late 17th century English work box or travelling case
English Circa 1680
Of conventional form with slightly domed lid, this piece has acquired a magnifi...
Category
1680s English Antique Boxes
Materials
Brass
Louis XVI Gold Snuff Box, Circa 1778
Located in Paris, FR
Oval snuff box in three tones of gold. The hinged lid is decorated with an intricate scale pattern surrounded by a frieze of roses, ribbons, and pink, green and white gold leaves. Th...
Category
1770s French Louis XVI Antique Boxes
Materials
Gold
Unique 17th Century Miniature Japanese Namban Lacquer Miniature Dollhouse Chest
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A unique and exceptional Japanese miniature or dollhouse export lacquered chest
Kyoto, circa 1620-1640
The chest of rectangular shape with a domed lid, decorated in Transition-style, in gold hiramaki-e on a black background within reserved lobed cartouches decorated with landscapes animated with birds and rabbits, on a shagreen or samegawa background. The borders are decorated with geometric friezes, the box with gilt-copper mounts, the interior decorated in red lacquer.
Measures: H 9.2 x W 14.5 x D 7.2 cm
This miniature is of exceptional quality and a perfect copy of the famous large size Transition-style coffers. It was most likely ordered by a Dutch lady for her dollhouse (poppenhuis), like the famous Petronella Oortman (1656-1716) doll-house, which is now one of the highlights in the collection of the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, or Petronella Oortmans-de la Court’s (1624-1707) dollhouse in the collection of the Centraal Museum Utrecht. Sara Rothé of Amsterdam in 1743 ordered a miniature black lacquered ivory tripod table with gold chinoiserie decoration by Jurriaan Buttner (Monika Kopplin, European Lacquer, 2010, p. 56).
Other Japanned dollhouse...
Category
17th Century Japanese Edo Antique Boxes
Materials
Shagreen, Cypress
Ancient Ebony Neoclassic Box, Late 18th-Early 19th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Ebony neoclassic box is an original biscuit object realized in Rome during the second half of 1700 and the beginning of 1800.
Very good conditions.
This refined box represents...
Category
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Boxes
Materials
Porcelain
20th Century Italian Sterling Silver Oval Box with Handle
Located in VALENZA, IT
Impressive oval-shaped sterling silver box.
The shape is simple and smooth adaptable to all furnishings.
At the center of the lid there is a swinging handle also in solid silver to a...
Category
1990s Italian Other Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver
Important and Rare Italian Box Safe from the 17th Century '1647'
Located in Madrid, ES
Important and Rare Italian box safe from the 17th century
In chiseled bronze, decorated with jasper plates and hard stones, with a cameo with a male figure at the centre.
Inscriptio...
Category
17th Century Italian Baroque Antique Boxes
Materials
Bronze
Vintage Maitland-Smith Lg Tessellated Faux Tortoise Shell Hexagonal Box
Located in Portage, MI
Vintage Hexagonal mosaic faux tortoise shell wooden box by Maitland-Smith with brass inlay. Made in the 1990's in an art deco style. Maitland-Smith Label still on the bottom with bra...
Category
1990s Philippine Art Deco Boxes
Materials
Brass
Antique American Queen Anne Period Lidded Brass Tobacco Box, circa 1750
Located in San Francisco, CA
A circa 1750 American Queen Anne period cast brass tobacco or snuff box with lid.
Charming and rare antique box from the New England American colonies features beveled and shaped ...
Category
1750s American Queen Anne Antique Boxes
Materials
Brass, Lead
Louis XV Mother-of-pearl Snuffbox
By Louis Robin
Located in New Orleans, LA
This Louis XV-period gold-mounted snuff box features lustrous panels of inlaid mother-of-pearl. The whimsical box takes the form of a barrel and features hinged lids on both ends. Di...
Category
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Boxes
Materials
Gold
A Rare Antique Swiss Gold & Enamel Jewelled Vinaigrette Box Late 18th C
Located in London, GB
Thanks for looking at this superb object of vertu.
This box is in the form of a boat, the cover and base of translucent blue enamel on a peacock-feather engine-turned ground, the cover further enamelled with a variety of sea shells on a grass bank in bright colours of red, pink, yellow, green, blue etc.
All around the cover and the base there are 64 emerald cabochons set in as a decorative border.
The sides are covered in blue enamel with a gold chequered design with a white enamel border
all the way around the corners of the base.
The curved shape grille is expertly pierced and bright-cut with foliage.
The overall condition is faultless it opens and closes effortlessly and the very important enamel is in perfect order no excuses and has never suffered any restoration.
The box is stamped with a makers mark in the base but we have never looked up the maker
please look at the images and see for yourself.
This is a very good example of a solid gold Box...
Category
1780s Swiss Antique Boxes
Materials
Gold
18th Century, Lowestoft English Porcelain Trinket Box
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
18th century, English porcelain trinket box hand decorated in polychrome glazes and inscribed: "A Trifle from Lowestoft 1795".
Category
18th Century English George III Antique Boxes
Materials
Porcelain
20th Century Italian Round Sterling Silver Jewelry Box
By Pampaloni
Located in VALENZA, IT
Round shape sterling silver jewelry box. The simplicity of the forms and the harmony of the proportions make it suitable for all settings.
The lid of the jewelry box has a knob hand...
Category
1990s Italian Other Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver
Neoclassical Antique Sterling Silver Tea Caddy Set from 1797 by Robert Sharp
By Robert Sharp
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1797 by Robert Sharp, this rare and exceptional quality, George III, antique sterling silver tea caddy set, comprises two oval tea caddies and a sugar caddy...
Category
1790s English Neoclassical Antique Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver
George III Mahogany Tea Caddy with Inlay & Burled Crossbanding
Located in Atlanta, GA
George III Mahogany Tea Caddy with Inlay & Burled Crossbanding, ca. 1790
Category
Late 18th Century English George III Antique Boxes
Materials
Mahogany
pair of Japanese 18th century Red and Black Lacquer boxes
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most decorative pair of Japanese 18th century Red and Black Lacquer boxes. Each most charming rectangular box displays wonderfully detailed hand painted floral and foliate black La...
Category
18th Century Japanese Antique Boxes
Materials
Lacquer
C1680 Oak Bible Box Well Carved
Located in Bakewell, GB
C1680 oak bible box well carved on 3 sides
good colour and patination
58cms Wide x 45cms Deep x 24cms High
Category
1680s Antique Boxes
Materials
Oak
18th Century Gold Sewing Box with Wax Case, Scissors, Seal
Located in Paris, FR
A 18th century set presented in trapezoidal case made of light wood and inlaid with marquetry. The vanity case includes a gold wax case decorated with fl...
Category
1780s French Louis XVI Antique Boxes
Materials
Gold
French School 1790 Louis XVI Oval Snuff Box in 18kt Gold with Miniature Portrait
Located in Miami, FL
Presentation Snuff box from the 18th century French School.
A very important and rare Neoclassical oval box, made in Paris, France circa 1790. It was crafted with translucent natu...
Category
1790s French Neoclassical Antique Boxes
Materials
Gold
18th Century South Staffordshire Snuff Box - 'Musicians in parkland'
Located in Basildon, GB
An 18th Century South Staffordshire Snuff Box, decorated with a couple and two seated musicians in parkland, the sides with small panels within rai...
Category
18th Century English Rococo Antique Boxes
Materials
Bronze, Enamel
Georgian Mahogany 18th Century Tea Caddy, circa 1780
Located in Incline Village, NV
Nice mellow patina on this 18th century English mahogany tea caddy with three interior compartments. Two end sections have incised geometric carved lids. Tapered all around from top ...
Category
1780s English Georgian Antique Boxes
Materials
Wood
18th Century English Early Georgian Mahogany Box with Original Handles
Located in Atlanta, GA
An early Georgian mahogany box from the late 18th century. This exquisite English box is made of a rich mahogany wood seemingly stained to perfec...
Category
Late 18th Century English Georgian Antique Boxes
Materials
Bronze
Tea Caddy George II Brass Padouk English circa 1760
Located in Cheltenham, GB
Fine example of a George II brass metal mounted padouk tea caddy with finely etched and wrought hardware and vivid grain, color and patina.
...
Category
18th Century English Georgian Antique Boxes
Materials
Brass
Antique Bilston Enamel Etui / Sewing Box Case, circa 1770
Located in Basildon, GB
Antique 18th Century Bilston Enamel Etui / Sewing Box Case, complete with contents, decorated with teal enamel and gilt Rococo cartouche containing flor...
Category
1760s English Georgian Antique Boxes
Materials
Enamel
Sea Captain's Box, circa 1680/1720 'Colonial'
Located in Esbeek, NL
Sea captain's box with iron fittings
1680/1720
colonial.
Category
17th Century European Antique Boxes
Materials
Wood, Walnut
Enamel Tea Caddy Vienna 18th Century with Landscape
Located in Epfach, DE
A very nice enamel tea caddy, Vienna 18th century, paintings with landscape and couples on all sides and on the top and gold ornamentation.
Category
1760s Austrian Rococo Antique Boxes
Materials
Enamel
Rare silver Herb Box (Yerbera), Upper Peru, Potosí, c. 1775–90 great repoussé
Located in Tel Aviv - Jaffa, IL
Herb Box (Yerbera), Upper Peru, possibly Potosí, c. 1775–90, cast, repoussé, and chased silver,
the design is very intricate, with lions, cats and some other animals, and a women on the lid, it is made in a shell shape with a classical women on top of the lid, the body is all hand made with lions and wild cats with leafs designs, the inner part is divided into two compartments, as usually in this type of boxes. lock is not working but it is very nice and "primitive" looking.
Boxes have a long history across cultures and time. In Spanish America, containers of many types, styles, and materials were cherished as gifts. Known today as yerberas (herb boxes) or coqueras (coca boxes...
Category
Late 18th Century Antique Boxes
Materials
Silver
Saint-Cloud snuff box in the form of a shepherd, circa 1735
By Saint-Cloud Porcelain
Located in Spencertown, NY
The silver hinged snuff box with the resting shepherd and dog at his feet, above hand painted floral sprays. The silver hinged mount with loose closur...
Category
Mid-18th Century French Rococo Antique Boxes
Materials
Silver
Colonial box in ebony wood
Located in 'S-HERTOGENBOSCH, NL
A Dutch colonial box from Batavia in the former Dutch East Indies.
Hand-carved with floral motives in ebony, used for jewelry or letters,
ca. 1800. Origi...
Category
1790s Indonesian Dutch Colonial Antique Boxes
Materials
Ebony
18th Century South Staffordshire Snuff Box
Located in Basildon, GB
An 18th Century South Staffordshire Snuff Box, painted with figures and a boat by a classical colonnade . 3.25" wide x 2.5" depth x 1.5" high
Category
18th Century English Rococo Antique Boxes
Materials
Bronze, Enamel
18th-century Dutch-colonial Peranakan mother-of-pearl casket with silver mounts
Located in Amsterdam, NL
An Indonesian Peranakan mother-of-pearl inlaid mastic sirih casket with silver mounts
Jakarta (Batavia), circa 1720-1730, the silver hinges marked for Batavia, maker’s mark HS or SH...
Category
Mid-18th Century Indonesian Dutch Colonial Antique Boxes
Materials
Silver
17th Century Italian Ballot Voting Urn Carved Blue and Red Painted Wood
Located in Milano, MI
Antique Italian ballot urn shaped wooden box, carved and painted, coming from Tuscany, Monte San Savino near Arezzo in Central Italy. This ballot urn is an excellent example of a 17th century wooden voting box...
Category
Mid-17th Century Italian Baroque Antique Boxes
Materials
Pine
18th to 19th Century Lidded Oak Low Stool with Interior Storage
Located in San Francisco, CA
18th to 19th century lidded oak low stool with interior storage
Measures: 22" wide x 8.5" deep x 15" high
The interior measures 17.5" wide x 6.5" d...
Category
Late 18th Century American American Colonial Antique Boxes
Materials
Oak
Rare 18th Century George III Lacquer Tea Caddy with Original Lacquer Canisters
Located in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
This exceptional and rare George III period tea caddy is a remarkable example of 18th-century craftsmanship. Featuring intricate chinoiserie lacquer decoration, the caddy retains all...
Category
18th Century English George III Antique Boxes
Materials
Lacquer
Superb Late 16th Century Signed Colonial Japanese Namban Export Lacquer Coffer
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Superb late 16th century signed colonial Japanese Namban export lacquer coffer
Momoyama period, late 16th/early 17th century, inscribed 'Arisato' on the bottom
H. 30.5 x W. 43...
Category
16th Century Japanese Antique Boxes
Materials
Cedar, Lacquer
English Gold And Hardstone Snuff Box
Located in New Orleans, LA
This 18th-century English snuff box is composed of a beautiful dark hardstone body encased in gold casework mounts. The box opens with a hinged lid, allowing snuff stored inside to b...
Category
Mid-18th Century English Rococo Antique Boxes
Materials
Gold
Korean Joseon Dynasty Bowl
Located in Tampa, FL
A Korean Joseon Dynasty glazed ceramic bowl. It is a celadon color. The Joseon Dynasty, circa 1392-1897.
Category
16th Century Korean Antique Boxes
Materials
Porcelain
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.