Asian Decorative Boxes

A Japanese four-case lacquer inro by a member of Kajikawa family circa 19th century (late Edo to early Meiji period). It depicts a nocturnal scenery of a meandering stream surrounded by bush clovers, where a full moon is reflected on the water. It was masterfully decorated in gold and silver maki-e using a combination of techniques including takamakie, togidashi and kirigane as well as aogai (abalone shell) inlays. The stream was set between the slightly elevated banks, adding to this piece a already strong three-dimensional composition. The interior was decorated in gold nashiji. It was signed on the bottom "Kajikawa Zou" (made by Kajikawa and a pot seal centered with "Ei" in Kanji. In one of the compartment, there is a katakana mark, appears to be a name, possibly the owner. Kajikawa clan was one of the most famous lacquer artisanal family established in the 17th century. Many well known members over the generations produced lacquer art in a wide range of formats, but two third were signed only with the family name such as this one. It is therefore not possible to pinpoint the exact author of this piece. Provenance: This inro was purchased as lot 349 in Christie's New York sale Japanese...

A large Japanese Namban lacquer arqueta coffer for the Portuguese market Kyoto, Momoyama-period, late 16th century In Hinoki cypress lacquered in ...

An elegant and intricately detailed Chinese export folding game box, crafted from lacquered wood with gilded decoration, dating to the early 19th century. The exterior features beaut...

A Qing Dynasty period Chinese unusual round wooden lidded box from the 19th century with rattan top. Discover the unique allure of this 19th-century Chinese round wooden lidded box, ...

Exquisite handcrafted Middle Eastern mosaic marquetry inlaid walnut wood box. vintage small trinket box intricately decorated with Moorish motif des...

A highly decorative vintage Chinese red painted stacking picnic box and carrier, painted in the Tibetan style, circa 1990's, China. The large painted and textured wood picnic box and carrier comprised of three trays or boxes, and one lid, all housed in a handled carrier. The red painted boxes and cover stack. A large roundel design of a golden dragon face within a cloud collar...

Two Russian silver gilt and cloisonné enamel Easter eggs on stands Russian, 20th Century Height 9.5cm, diameter 5cm The two silver gilt and cloisonné enamel eggs showcase Russi...

Born during the 19th century Qing Dynasty, this exquisite decorative wooden cover captivates with its unique conic shape and rich dark patina. Originally part of a farmer's box, this...

This Shiwan ceramic pillow of earthenware features a green glaze with hints of blue. Pillows in this shape were not only used by opium smokers but most typ...

This beautifully decorated besamim, a decorative spice box used in the weekly Jewish ceremony of Havdalah, marking the conclusion of Shabbat (the Sabbath) - is a fine piece of antiqu...

Designed to resemble a scroll-form altar table, this narrow footed box has an elegant silhouette with waterfall sides and minimal ornamentation. Dated to the late 19th century, the b...

A charming Chinese yellow cloisonne small trinket box with dragons, Republic Period, circa 1920, China. The small box sets on four bun feet and designed ...

Add a touch of classic elegance to your decor with this Vintage Art Deco Box With Rattan Detail. Showcasing sleek lines and intricate rattan accen...

1970's Architectural box handcrafted of tessellated coral stone in hues of ivory, peach, and salmon pink. The large scale box features plinth feet wi...

PRESENTING A LOVELY 19C Anglo Indian Highly Carved Sadeli Mosaic Inlaid Sewing Box. Made in Bombay, India, circa 1880. The box is made of sandalwood with highly carved raised teak wood panels on all sides, depicting temple scenes, animals and foliage. The box is in a sarcophagus form. It is edged in bone (and we can tell it is bone and not ivory, from the color and evidence of capillaries, which are not found in ivory), and banded with Bombay Sadeli mosaic and ebony veneer. The lid opens to reveal a removable tray with various open compartments and lidded compartments. 5 lidded compartments, 1 unlidded compartment and 8 holders for thimbles, etc The tray lifts to reveal a blue velvet (original) lined section, for storing jewelry etc, with sections for collars etc. The inside of the lid has a removable mirror (the mirror is missing on this one but can easily be replaced). Behind the mirror is the original green velvet lining. It has its original brass carry handles on the sides and sits on 4 silvered button feet (of recent origin). Some repairs to the exterior and condition issues (priced accordingly), but still a LOVELY COLLECTIBLE box! 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! 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...

A petite 19th-century canister once used to store a smoker's personal supply of opium paste. Perfecting line and form, the small box has a balanced, oval form shaped of white brass (...

A pair of Japanese lacquer lidded Hokai boxes with chased brass hardware and original ropes. Hokai boxes are traditionally used in Japan to store and carry s...

This is a quietly impressive Chinese mid-to-late 19th century table or writing box. The box is of metal-mounted burl wood construction in the Ming style, but dating later. The box fe...

This stunning rustic Buddha box stand table is a late 19th century offering box. Significant Triangular shape box stand table set on legs carved as Naga's a...

An antique Japanese copper footed rectangular double-bottom box with hinged lid. Late Meiji period, The piece is decorated with cloisonne enamel depictions of dragons, phoenix bird, flowers against the swirl motif background. Collectible Oriental Vanity...

17th century Chinese porcelain blue and white cosmetics box from the Hatcher Collection decorated with a phoenix. The phoenix is painted with its wings outstretched, its tail flutter...

Very large beautiful vintage handcrafted decorative round copper box with lid, latch and handle Delicately and intricately hand-hammered with geometric designs. Hand crafted by skill...

A very well crafted tessellated stone octagonal box with attached lid by Renoir Designs, circa 1970s. The piece is very heavy and solid and lined...

Box signed Katsutoshi Koku, Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912) Rectangular silver box bearing the Japanese junjin hallmark, signifying pure silver, made during the Meiji period (1868-1...

This very interesting and decorative silver box was made in Siam now Thailand circa 1920. It is made from solid high grade silver (tested) and is beautifully decorated with niello w...

Gorgeous inlaid black shell and bone decorative trinket box by A&Y Augousti of Paris, circa 1990s. The box is made of wood with a intricate diamond pattern shell overlay and is in ex...

1891-1911 Chinese cinnabar stamp box. The red lacquer carved with a garden scene & a sage under a tree. Hinged. Sides are fully carved as well. Marked "China". Late Qing Dynasty. 3 3...

A beautiful charcoal shagreen quilted box by Kifu Paris. This natural skin piece is entirely handmade by master artisans to the highest quality, constructed...

Beautiful silvered metal box of an elephant in a very traditional Anglo -Indian craft, art. Has an amazing age patina in contrast with the inside, as shown.

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 ...

Hand tooled cast metal incense stick holder in a Snail Shaped form. Vintage cast brass incense burner holder. A censer, incense burner, perfume ...

Rectangular box with brass tacks and hinged lid set in a brass base.

Hand Crafted keepsake/desk box featuring hand cut and polished grey and red bone tiles over a wood box.

Vintage handmade Maitland Smith light pink tessellated kidney shaped stone box. Mid-Century Modern Period made in the Philippines. No makers mark....

Nice Indian box in green lacquered wood dating from the end of the 20th century. It is decorated with delicate gold, black and green pattern.

A Latched Wooden Box with Brass Overlay Decorations, 20th Century Descriptions: The ebon rectangular box decorated with overlaid Arabesque brass motifs punctuated by nailhead boss...

Extraordinary museum quality signed Japanese contemporary decorative porcelain box in an elegant rectangular shape, stunningly gilded and hand painted in vivid hues of purple and blu...

This ornately carved 19th-century offering box would have been presented as a gift filled with popular Chinese snacks, including roasted melon seeds, dried fruit, and soybeans toaste...

An absolutely lovely Korean black lacquer and abalone shell inlaid box in the form of a pair of Mandarin ducks, early 20th century, Korea. The ...

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...

another piece from my personal collection. wonderful handmade cigarette case from china. made by an unknown artist and retailed by the company woshing / shanghai. the stamp dates the...

Vietnamese covered boxes with representative bird and plant designs. Both are made of cream-colored base and blue designs, typical of Annamese pottery. These shared characteristics h...

A metal framed box with all-over lacquer decoration featuring multi-coloured flowers, leaves, ribbons. The inside of the box is veneered in a light wood. It is stamped China on the u...

A wonderful example of an Akha Tribe spice basket, with a stunning woven pattern on all sides and crafted from a mix of rattan. This basket was once used to store precious spices and...

Nice condition for its age. Does not have key. Has original sewing box utensils inside - spools, etc.

This exquisite set of 3 round boxes, crafted by R&Y Augousti, is a true testament to luxury and craftsmanship. Wrapped in a rich cream shagreen, each box features a breathtaking onyx...

A Japanese lacquered box with lid in the shape of a miniature Hasami-Bako (traveling chest) circa late 18 to early 19th century of the Edo period....

A brilliant Kazaribako "Ornamented Box" made of glass by Japanese artist Kyohei Fujita (1921-2004) circa 1990s. The hand-blown green glass box featur...

An impressive Chinese export solid silver dragon box, crafted circa 1880–1920 from substantial heavy-gauge silver, 900 purity and intended for the Western market. The rectangular fo...

An antique Japanese late Meiji era covered Totai enamel on porcelain trinket or jewelry box. Circa: late 19th century to early 20th century. The ware is enameled with a polychrome floral medallion with butterflies and berries, on the top of the cover, surrounded by floral, and foliage patterns made in the Cloisonne technique. A hand painted image of a flower, under the cover. Dated, 01.12.08, and probably numbered, 6, on the bottom. Totai Shippo...

The Coco box collection by Kifu Paris exemplifies luxury through its intricate design and meticulous craftsmanship. This set of three quilted boxes in black shagreen, framed with a b...

Labradorite semiprecious stone box with hinged lid. Labradorite displays an iridescent optical effect (or schiller) known as labradorescence. La...

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...

For one short decade, from around 1910 to 1920, pewter was all the rage in China’s bustling commercial centers of Shanghai and Canton. Drawn to pewter’s soft, silvery glow, artists t...

1920s Anglo-Raj Hand-Painted Rajasthani Dowry Box A striking early 20th-century Anglo-Raj decorative wooden box, hand-painted and richly detailed with romantic and courtly scenes. Or...

Chinese red and black lacquered box with fine brass mounts in the Chinese Export style. Lovely color. A refined and classic decorative box, beautiful craftsmanship. 16 inches wide, ...

A fine Korean iron box that was traditionally used to store tobacco leaves dated to the late Joseon Dynasty circa 19th century. The box is made from iron and has a heavy weight, although the wears along the edges of the lid and base exposes a bronze metal color underneath, indicating the iron metal may contains a high level of copper. The surface was beautifully decorated with elaborate silver inlay that covers the entire surface except the base. The extraordinary workmanship depicts a pair of deer within the circled square (shape of heaven and earth) and a lined background on the long sides and a crane with spread wings on the shorter sides. Both animals were associated with longevity. Their eyes were highlighted with copper inlay, adding a lively touch to the animation. The lid is centered with a Chinese character "Xi" (Paired-Hui in Korean), which means double happiness. (In Chinese culture, it is often used in a wedding ceremony). The large symbol was set on geometrical background of tightly scrolling diamond pattern surrounded by stylized Ruyi mushroom heads, another floral longevity symbol. Archaic fret cloud band borders the entire perimeters of the lid and the container. Tobacco was introduced to Korean in the first half of the 17th century and gradually gained popularity. When the tobacco was started being smoked in shredded form instead of rolled leaves, there rose the production of the smoking accessories, with some in fine quality as luxury items for the elite. The accoutrement such as this box is a fine example made in late Joseon dynasty, using extensive silver inlay, a technique called "jjoeum-ipsa", in which the silver wires were hammered into the scorched iron surface to create the elaborate design. Similar boxes with variation of shape and motifs are in the collection of several major museums. Compare the box with item Gu 754 in the National Museum of Korea; item 22.78 in MET NYC and M.240:1, 2-1926 in V& A Museum in London. The most closely related example we found is item C232 in the collection of the Museum of East Asian Art...

Turn of the century Japanese black lacquer pin box, elegantly adorned in silver and gold decoration over a sleek black lacquer base. This exquisite piece remains in excellent conditi...

Vintage Middle Eastern Moorish wooden jewelry box inlaid with marquetry. Middle Eastern box handcrafted in very fine Moorish micro mosaic diamonds,...

Early Japanese Lacquer Incense Box (Kogo) Late 17thc. Of rectangular form with soft corners, decorated with a diaper pattern in gold lacquer on a brownish black ground, with pewter r...