Hardwood Decorative Boxes

This is a very good and complete handmade, hardwood chess set game of 32 pieces in a handmade pine box with a sliding lid, which we date to the turn of the 19th Century, Circa 1900. ...

The vintage fruitwood decorative box or tea caddy is sculpted in shape of an apple, with rounded body and lid made in wood sections, adding textural interest to the piece. The fine w...

This is an antique butler's work box. An English, mahogany and fruitwood country house carry, dating to the Georgian period, circa 1790. Delightful work box with a charming, estate-...

A rich dark brown teak trinket or jewelry box with a blue‑and‑white porcelain dog finial, circa mid‑20th century. A round dark brown wooden box with blue and white porcelain dog fini...

A luxurious English writing box of circa 1879, in the manner of Tunbridge Ware using burled walnut that has been inlaid with mother-of-pearl and geometric marquetry. The top of the l...

Art Deco Jewelry Box or Cigar Box, Decorative Engraved Wooden Box, France 1930s Elegant wooden decorative box finely carved with intricate geometric decoration. Beautifully crafted...

Antique Puiforcat cigarette case in wood covered with burgundy leather. Interior compartment. Patinated bronze appliqué decoration on the upper exterior of the case. Stamped signatur...

This is a very good quality and complete English handmade hardwood "Weighted" Club Chess Set game of 32 pieces, in the Staunton Fierce Knight pattern, all within a jointed wood box ...

This is an antique pokerwork stationery box. An English, beech and tulipwood desktop tidy in Arts & Crafts taste, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1900. Charmingly hand f...

This is an antique Campaign correspondence box. An Anglo-Indian, teak and brass bound Colonial traveller's writing case, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1880. Captivati...

This is an antique calligrapher's quill box. An Austrian, painted pearwood pen case, dating to the Edwardian period, circa 1910. Eye-catching painted appearance accentuates this cha...

An Anglo Indian Rectangular Porcupine Quill & Bone Box, 20th Century Description: Constructed from wood, featuring naturally shed porcupine quills inlaid between decorative band...

Vintage handcrafted decorative box with lid features live edge design in spalted Oregon maple burl wood. The rich texture of the burl wood is emphasized by the fine graphic dark str...

Amazing Marquetry and inlay on this Sorrento Napoli Box C1880. There is craftsmanship of the highest caliber all over this box. Box front drops down to reveal inside completely cover...

exquisite middle Eastern Moorish Syrian inlay jewelry box. This box is intricately inlaid with Moorish motif designs which have been uniquely inlaid with bone, mother of pearl and f...

We are very pleased to offer this Italian burl wood box, circa 1950s, showcasing a richly dramatic swirling grain throughout. The box features a clean, architectural silhouette with ...

Pair of George III Mahogany and Satinwood Tea Caddies, England, Late 18th Century A beautiful and highly decorative pair of English George III tea caddies, dating from the late 18th...

Early 19th Century Karl Johan Box with Inlay Ribbon Decorations in Fruitwood, Sweden. Key not included

PRESENTING A GORGEOUS 19C Anglo Indian Highly Carved Sadeli Mosaic Sarcophagus Sewing Box. Made in Bombay, India circa 1860-80. Box made of sandalwood with highly carved teak wood reliefs and panels on all sides. Edged with bone and ebony veneers and glorious sadeli mosaic, made from tiny pieces of faux ivory, pewter, green semi-precious stone. The box is in a sarcophagus form with domed lid. The original brass carry handles are on the sides. The interior is in great condition and consists of a removeable mirror under the lid portion, with the original red velvet lining behind it. The base is removeable and contains a number of lidded compartments. 6 of the interior lids on the base, are each inlaid with sadeli mosaic banding. The rest are also carved and chased. The interior is fully complete with 7 lidded faux ivory/bone, thread canisters with sadeli domes and the original bone thimble. The box sits on 4 brass ball or bun feet with the original velvet lining on the base. Some minor repairs and losses, but this box is fully complete. This is ‘rare’ as many of these boxes have not survived in such condition! Included in the sale are 2 photos that were in the box (under the base tray). Interestingly, one of them is a view of downtown Nassau, New Providence (Bermuda) from the early 20C and stamped on the rear. What a ‘journey’ this piece has made! Made in India … travelled to Bermuda, probably via Britain … back to Ireland (where we bought it) …. then to Texas! These boxes were made by superb Indian craftsmen, specifically for sale to the ruling British elite. These types of boxes, carved padouk and sandalwood, (whilst beautiful and superbly crafted) were of a lesser quality, than the more profusely and intricately mosaic inlay, tortoiseshell and ivory boxes, made for the British ‘Upper Classes’ in the areas of Bombay and Vizagapatam. These type of boxes were much more affordable back in 1880 (and indeed today) and would probably have been bought by mid-level diplomats, civil servants or visitors. Sewing boxes (in general), were in EVERY Victorian home in Britain in the 19th Century and like other boxes etc were ‘status symbols’ of your place in society! The more ornate the box, the more ‘Upper Class’ you were! Of it’s type, this one, is one of the very higher quality one’s, than the norm! SADELI MOSAIC: “Anglo Indian boxes were made in India for the English residents from the early part of the 18th century. They were brought back or sent back to England usually by the people who had commissioned them. From the beginning of the nineteenth century they were imported more commercially, although not in any significant numbers until the middle decades. They were very highly valued, especially the early ones, to the extent that the designs were copied on late 19th and early 20th century tins. The ancient art of Sadeli Mosaic is said to have been introduced from Shiraz in Persia via Sind to Bombay, a long time before the Anglo Indian boxes were made. It was a technique, which required a high degree of skill and patience. It was executed very lavishly, in that the frequent cuts wasted a great amount of the precious materials used. The workmanship was however more than commensurable to the value of the materials. Ivory, silver, pewter (or other metals), wood and horn were cut into faceted rods which were bound together to form geometric patterns. When the glue has set, the rods were sliced in transverse sections. This gave the maker a number of angled circular pieces in the original pattern. Several variations of patterns could be achieved by combining the materials in different ways. The ivory was sometimes dyed green to give an extra color. The mosaic pieces in a combination of patterns, often separated by ivory, ebony, horn or silver stringing were used to veneer sandalwood boxes. In the early boxes, which date from the turn of the 18th to the 19th century, there are large panels of mosaic covering tops and sides of boxes. It took incredible skill to cover such large areas without any shakes or wavering of the pattern. The corners and joins on these boxes are impeccably matched. The makers (reputed to be Persian) of Sadeli mosaic made in the first two decades of the 19th century displayed a total understanding of the qualities of the different materials they used. They combined substances, which can expand and contract according to atmospheric conditions with others, which are hard and unyielding. The result was a sharp definition of the lines and patterns, which made up the whole design. On the early boxes the designs look deceptively simple. The fact is, they emerged from a culture, which had mastered geometry and understood how to generate a pattern from a set number of points. The patterns are so harmoniously combined that their incredible complexity is not immediately apparent. The earliest Sadeli boxes...

Middle Eastern Mosaic Wooden Inlaid Marquetry Box Game Backgammon and Chess. Middle Eastern Micro Mosaic Wooden Inlaid Marquetry Box. Large vintage Moorish Syrian style micro mosaic ...

Elegant, exotic, and unmistakably refined, shagreen has long captivated those with a discerning eye for luxury. Derived from stingray skin, this richly textured material first appea...

A very elegant large French Kingwood Ormolu mounted casket of very generous proportions and of outstanding Museum quality, firmly attributed to Alphonse Tahan Paris (1830-1880), offi...

This exquisite Art Deco modernist lidded box boasts a minimalist yet refined and sophisticated shape, featuring varnish Macassar wood adorned with tropical wooden edging trims. The r...

Moorish Spain Arch Top Intricate detailed wood inlaid Marquetry Jewelry box. An Hispano Moresque Arch Top Wood Inlaid Marquetry Jewelry Box Casket. Moori...

Rare Dutch baroque box composed of padauk wood with original red lacquer finish, decorated with ivory lacquer with gold outline. Richly adorned with heavy brass (or bronze) decorativ...

Antique 1940s Mosaic Shell Inlaid Decorative Middle Eastern Islamic Box. Mosaic Luxury Decorative Middle Eastern Islamic Vanity Box. Middle Eastern Asian Mosaic Wood Box with Inlays ...

A rare and exquisite circa 1780 English, possibly Irish, George III period bottle caddy or tabletop cellarette in the form of a two-storey ashlar Palladian mansion house, the boxwood...

1940s Marquetry Mosaic Wood Box Moorish Islamic Art Granada Spain Khatam Decor. Moorish Inlaid Marquetry Jewelry Box Spain. Dimensions Height: 2.5 in. ...

This is a small antique apprentice-piece chest. An Anglo-Indian, carved teak Colonial keepsake box, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1880....

A lovely Chinese turquoise ground cloisonne "double peach" box and cover with shaped hardwood stand, Republic Period (1911 to 1949), early 20th century, China. The box formed as a p...

Chinese Huanghuali wood box decorated with bronze mountings and motifs of bats, fish and moths. The top features a classic Chinese medallion mounted to the centre of the lid. In un...

An exceptional Napoleon III Globe de Mariée, dating from the second half of the 19th-century (circa 1860–1880), preserved beneath its original hand-blown glass dome. These romantic F...

Micro Mosaic Persian Islamic Moorish Inlaid Jewelry Pen Box. 1950s Middle Eastern Moorish Inlaid Jewelry Trinket Mosaic Box. Handcrafted mar...

Vintage carved wood box features abstract heart form in striking choice of solid burl maple and mahogany woods. Asymmetrically sculpted box is covered with a sliding lid, held by a...

This is a very good quality English Art Deco period lidded Box, of two contrasting woods with a hinged lid and one internal compartment, dating to circa 1925. The box has very in-pe...

19th century Anglo-Indian wooden box fitted with various compartments finely hand carved. The top is finely hand carved with the Taj Mahal. The interior with removable hand carved nine-lidded compartments, the front cover has a mirror, the whole exhibiting very fine workmanship. This fine late Victorian Anglo-Indian box from India is in great condition for it age. A beautiful example of an Anglo-Indian fine art...

Elegant, exotic, and unmistakably refined, shagreen has long captivated those with a discerning eye for luxury. Derived from stingray skin, this richly textured material first appear...

A wonderful example of an English coffre fort or strong box in oyster kingwood veneer, with brass hinges and straps, with the front opening to three hidden fitted drawers. Dates to t...

This is a good quality, hand made hardwood lidded box with a fine quality hand carved bird, together with floral themes, which we date to the late 19th C / early 20th C Art Nouveau p...

Very fine 18th century Indian Macassar Ebony traveling writing box with Tutenag metal hardware, the vividly grained case with rare alloy trim, the rectangular form opening to make a ...

This is a very good quality English mid 19th C Victorian period box or document box with fine inlaid detail, having a hinged lid with a brass swan neck handle, dating to the mid/ ear...

Elegant, exotic, and unmistakably refined, shagreen has long captivated those with a discerning eye for luxury. A study in subtle opulence, this artisan-crafted decorative box is wr...

Wooden casket with inlays, fully resored with glossy finish, manufactured in Vienna in 1920 attributed to Wiener Werkstätte and Dagobert Peche.

A fine quality brass inlaid Campaign style traveling desk with a recessed brass handle engraved with the name of its owner, Anne Orten. The piece opens to reveal a velvet lined writi...

A diminutive William and Mary Kingwood/Princes oyster strongbox or Coffre Fort, circa 1680-1700, England. This small scale example is adorned with highly decorative gilt brass stra...

This exquisite French Art Deco decorative box is reminiscent of Desny's work. It features Macassar wood hexagonal sides with chromed metal accents on the lid—French Art Deco decorati...

Vintage small storage or trinket box features rounded, biomorphic shape and simple, but elegant construction. The box is hand carved of solid zebra wood; the storage compartment slid...

English zebra wood military campaign writing desk with brass bound molded edges, original recessed side handles, fitted leather interior with tooling and retains the original crystal ink wells...

Italian. Renaissance style jewelry box with secret compartment. Carved walnut with satinwood panels. Velvet interior. Mid 19th century. Made by Raffaello Bianchini.

A Chinese Huanghuali document box with original brass mounts. Features a rectangular lid with ornate cut-out brass corners, brass bound down a...

Elegant vintage footed wooden music box with top finely hand painted and inlaid with foliages floral decor. Vintage Italian wooden music box with marquetry inlay featuring a lute and flowers. Marquetry is the art of creating decorative designs using different materials, commonly thin pieces of wood. Handcrafted Jewelry music box, made in Italy with lacquered finish, wood Inlay, red felt lined with hinged lid. The music box has a Swiss Reuge music box...

Exquisite handcrafted Middle Eastern mosaic marquetry inlaid walnut wood box. Small box intricately decorated with Moorish motif designs which h...

Heavily Inlaid with Mother of Pearl and Abalone From our Writing Box collection, we are pleased to offer this stunning Antique Inlaid Writing Box by Hausburg. The Writing Box of rec...

A beautiful, rustic antique Indian merchant's cash box hand crafted out of teak and accented with brass corner brackets, handle and medallions. The key turns and the lid slides open ...

Eyecatching Ceylonese rectangular porcupine quill box with decoration of ebonised casing and striking porcupine quills and infills of white and black bone 'dots' Sliding lid reveals...

Very rare box in Macassar ebony and satinwood. It is a box of games, which opens by articulating the flaps on each side, and which allows you to put the many game objects you want in...

8-245 stone and brass over wood domed top geometric cut stone with brass interior and bottom.

A lovely small turned hardwood lidded box with a chess style shaped finial, made in Europe probably in the 1960s.

Vintage Japanese Landscape Music Box with Swiss Reuge Movement, Footed Wooden Jewelry Box, circa 1960s An elegant and highly decorative vintage wooden music box, handcrafted in a refined Japanese style and raised on delicate feet. The hinged lid is beautifully adorned with a finely hand-painted landscape scene depicting a river with a boat, framed by mountains and flowering red trees in the manner of traditional Japanese scenic art. Executed in warm tones of gold, red, green, and soft earth hues, the romantic composition evokes the charm of Meiji-inspired lacquerware and hand-colored Japanese landscapes. The polished wooden body features decorative inlaid detailing along the beveled edges, while the interior is lined in rich red felt, ideal for storing jewelry or treasured keepsakes. Fitted with a Swiss Reuge musical movement, the box begins to play upon opening. Renowned for precision craftsmanship since 1865, Reuge music mechanisms are highly sought after by collectors for their quality and enduring musical performance. A beautiful collectible and decorative accent for a vanity, desk, or tabletop. Dimensions: 4.5" W × 6" D × 2.5" H Materials: Wood, lacquer finish, felt lining, Swiss Reuge mechanism Origin: Japan / Switzerland movement Period: Circa 1960s Condition: Very good vintage condition with light wear consistent with age; music mechanism functions properly. Keywords / Meta Tags: Japanese music box...

This is an antique gentleman's travelling box. An Anglo-Indian, teak and brass bound correspondence case, dating to the Victorian period, circa 1880....