Antique 'Grand Tour' Olivewood Box, 19th Century

View Similar Items

19th Century Italian Grand Tour Steel Lidded Sarcophagus Box

A mid 19th century Italian grand tour Sorrento marquetry box circa 1860

Grand Antique English Olivewood Writing Box / Cabinet, circa 1890

Musical 'Grand Tour' souvenir box

19th C. Italian Grand Tour Micro-Mosaic "Doves of Pliny" Box After Antiquity

19th Century Painters Box

19th Century Antique Chinese Sewing Box

Antique 19th Century a Chinese Zitan Box

European Collection of 7 Antique 19th Century Snuff Boxes

Antique 19th Century Victorian Malachite & Brass Box c.1890

Antique Figured Coromandel Brass Box / Casket 19th Century

19th Century Rosewood Writing Box

1 of 9

Antique 'Grand Tour' Olivewood Box, 19th Century

About the Item

Fine antique 'Grand Tour' olivewood Jewelry Puzzle '(Strong-') box overall beautifully inlaid with among others a dancing couple, branches with flowers, etc. (see photo's). This is a superb example of an antique (19th century) Sorrento Ware Jewelry Puzzle '(Strong-') Box in the form of a stack of books brought back from the Grand Tour probably organized by " Cook's Tour" It has a secret compartment on the side; if you slide the front row of books, numbered from 1-11, across this will release a closed compartment on the side enabling one of the books to move up and down; this will reveal the keyhole! In short solving the mystery of this Sorrento Jewelry Puzzle Box will give you the pleasure of some nice time around the Christmas tree. Origin: Sorrento Italy. Grand Tour: The Grand Tour was the traditional trip of Europe undertaken by mainly upper-class European young men of means, or those of more humble origin who could find a sponsor. The custom flourished from circa 1660 until the advent of large-scale rail transport in the 1840s and was associated with a standard itinerary. It served as an educational "rite de passage". Though primarily associated with the British nobility and wealthy landed gentry, similar trips were made by wealthy young men of Protestant Northern European nations on Continental Europe, and from the second half of the 18th century, by some South and North Americans. The tradition declined with the lapse of neoclassical enthusiasm and after rail and steamship travel made the journeys much easier when Thomas Cook made the "Cook's Tour" of early mass tourism a byword. Source: Wikipedia / Archive M.H.

Dimensions:
Height: 5.12 in (13 cm)Width: 10.44 in (26.5 cm)Depth: 7.88 in (20 cm)
Style:
Victorian (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Fruitwood,Hand-Crafted
Place of Origin:
Italy
Period:
1870-1879
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1875
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Werkendam, NL
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU101583195782