Asian Decorative Boxes

With all-over mother of pearl inlay and mon design of chrysanthemum in gold and black lacquer on top. The chrysanthemum is a national symbol of Japan and the Imperial family.

The “Peacock Box” set by R&Y Augousti is a true masterpiece of modern luxury, where organic form meets exceptional craftsmanship. The distinctive, fluid shapes of these boxes cre...

A truly fine hand-painted porcelain round box with lid in figures of Chinese traditional ladies and men.   

The "Coco" round box in black shagreen with bronze patina brass exudes unparalleled luxury and craftsmanship. Its impeccably quilted shagreen surface is a tactile masterpiece, echoin...

The "Victoria" Box Set by Kifu Paris exudes luxury and craftsmanship, featuring two exquisite boxes in cream shagreen, each adorned with bronze patina brass accents and a striking se...

The "Coco" round box in grey shagreen with bronze patina brass exudes unparalleled luxury and craftsmanship. Its impeccably quilted shagreen surface is a tactile masterpiece, echoing...

This set of three Curved Top Boxes in black shagreen by R&Y Augousti blends modern elegance with timeless craftsmanship. The rich, textured shagreen exterior is perfectly complemente...

The "Coco" round box in cream shagreen with bronze patina brass exudes unparalleled luxury and craftsmanship. Its impeccably quilted shagreen surface is a tactile masterpiece, echoin...

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

This box is a japanese box, early 20th century, in a red laquer, representing a bird and a flower. This has been made in Japan.

Red lacquer box with the lid representing a scholar and children playing in a mountainous garden, the outer sides covered with repeated geometric patterns. This box was made in China...

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

Lacquered Round Container with Brass, Saffron Black, Viya by Vikram Goyal Lacquered round container with brass. Handmade in India. With moniker’s such as red gold, exquisite thread...

Elegant vintage Chinese brass decorative box featuring an intricately engraved exterior adorned with auspicious longevity and prosperity symbols amid stylized floral and foliate moti...

Mid-century Chinese carved wooden box featuring an elaborate scenic design with a hinged top and brass closure hardware. (Stamped HUNG HOP CHEST CO. HONG...

It is a carved wooden box, brown and black. One part is hand carved, the other Painted lacquered. It was made in China during the 1930s and 1940s, so it is from the Republic period.

A charming little touch of Old Florida. This vintage tissue box cover features beautifully figured tortoiseshell bamboo paired with a woven rattan ...

A richly decorated vintage wooden box embellished with faux-craquelure decoupage in a dramatic palette of black, gold, burnt orange and deep red. Its symmetrical decoration incorpora...

A scarce fine quality antique silver-inlaid solid brass betel nut box (Lutuan), dating to the second half of the 19th / early 20th century, hand-crafted in Mindanao, Philippines. Boxes such as this were used to store the areca nut (also known as the betel nut) which would be wrapped in a betel leaf with lime paste and other ingredients, often tobacco, for chewing. Similar to the European tea caddy, these boxes often served as a way to impress while showing off ones wealth. Betel chewing was prevalent in the southern Philippines as in much of the rest of Southeast Asia. Wealthier Maranao families on Mindanao were able to afford elaborate silver-inlaid brass betel boxes such as this example. Such boxes were used to show off to guests and from which they were offered betel and the other component such as leaves and lime to make up the betel quid. Rare large size, most extant examples of such boxes tend to measure around 5 inches in length. At slightly more than 7.75 inches the example here is larger than most. The distinctive decorative box features a very heavy strong-box like rectangular shaped chest form with canted corners, copper handles, and a conforming hinged lid, lifting open to reveal an interior divided into three compartments covered by four hinged lids. Each of these doors is inlaid with silver in stylized orchid flower patterns. Exceptionally executed throughout, the arabesque silver inlaid exterior is decorated to the top with a large orchid motif within scrolling obid-obid (stylized rope) borders. The front, back and sides are inlaid with sets of stylized tail feathers of the sari-manok bird beneath which are unusual, highly stylized whimsical zoomorphic faces that appear like cat or tiger faces. (Such stylisation is accounted for by Southeast Asian Islamic preferences to avoid the overt and this potentially idolatrous representation of animal and human forms. Designs such as these are drawn from a local design repertoire that has its origins in wood carving. Although the spread of Islam in the Philippines began in the 14th century, mostly through the influence of Muslim merchants from the western Malay Archipelago, decorative arts in this design remain exceptionally rare. This lutuan represents a fine example of Islamic metalwork from the most eastern outreach of Islamic art and civilisation: Mindanao island being significantly further east than even China – artwork from Islamic Southeast Asia remains chronically under-represented in the world’s major collections of Islamic art. PROVENANCE / ACQUISITION Acquired from highly reputable auction house, Austin Auction Gallery, established 1983, Austin, Texas. References Brownrigg, H., Betel Cutters...

Beautiful and rare, this superb silver-mounted cut glass box was crafted by the legendary Russian firm Fabergé. The rounded cut glass box features a diamond pattern, while the hinged...

Sasak Dowry Box, Lombok Indonesia, Cowrie & Painted Palm 1950’s Handwoven and richly adorned, this 1950’s Sasak dowry box from Lombok, Indonesia, captures the ceremonial artistry of...

A round wooden box from India. Might be some type of rosewood. Circa 1920s, maybe a little earlier. Box with ivory feet and finial. The interior is about two inches deep.

This is a Chinese Export porcelain Lidded Box, hand painted with a figural decoration, made in China, circa 1920 The box is well potted in an oval shape, the lid having a domed top...

Presenting an astonishing Japanese Antique Carved Bone bamboo-form snuff bottle, museum quality. Dimension: 2.5" H x 1 " Dia. Condition: Excellent Condition

Brass Tissue Box, Celestial Black Large, Viya by Vikram Goyal Tissue box in lacquer with brass. Handmade in India. Whether it's the dense, intricate cloud motifs adorning the walls...

The highly decorated tray in the form of a table frames a series of three stacking boxes, a further three lidded boxes and a tray concealed within, raised on ogee bracket feet. This...

19th century Anglo-Indian Mughal wood box, inlaid and hand carved with the Taj Mahal and some flowers all around. Jewelry box, Anglo-Raj box from India in great condition. Nice Mughal Bombay Box...

Antique Art Deco set of 7 nesting dolls Handpainted each in different image after Kustodiev paintings. signed by the artist. Rare collectible and decorative set. Masterful painting o...

Beautiful little box lacquered with red and black Cinnabar forming a peony decoration. Cinnabar lacquer is an Asian technique that comes from cutting an...

Silver and enamel pillbox, ВА, Russia (Russian Empire), Moscow, 1899 - 1908 Additional Information: Materials: Silver, enamel, gilding, silver 84* (875*) Vintage from the 1900s ...

A Qing Dynasty period red lacquered treasure chest box from the 19th century, with brass hardware. Born during the 19th century, this exquisite Qing Dynasty red lacquered treasure ch...

19th century Chinese cloisonné enamel brass trinket box.

Japanese antique lacquer document box with elaborate hawk and faux oak grain, Late Meiji (1868 - 1912) / Early Taisho (1912 - 1926) period lac...

Chinese Cloisonne Box Round enamel box with lid in a blue and white pattern. Circa, early 20th century Measures: H 5 in. (12.7 cm) NMA No. 2084

This is a small antique sharing box. A Japanese, lacquered Meiji era case, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1890. Attractive Meiji period (1867 - 1912) box with a striking...

A fine early Meiji period Japanese cloisonne enamel box decorated with a graceful crane in flight among stylized clouds, with a sparrow perched near a flowering tree. The domed lid p...

This Antique Carved Cinnabar Box. China. Early 20th Century with Dragon Cover and date to approximately 1920. The box is composed of brass with a vibrant blue enamelled interior and ...

A gorgeous antique Tibetan bronze filigree and inlaid agate trinket jar China, Early 20th Century Measures: 3.5"W x 3.5"D x 4.25"H. Good original vintage condition, with beautiful...

A small square-form table with lacquer and intricate mother-of-pearl inlay design from Ryukyu Islands kingdom circa 17-18th century. Ryukyuan kingdom was used to be an independent is...

Genuime Pytnon wrapped desk/document trunk. Sold thru Karl Springer, C80s.

Another stunning 19th century Anglo-Ceylonese piece. Made circa 1880 in Ceylon (Now Sri Lanka) of Coromandel wood and specimen woods. This is a simply gorgeous and quality item!! Tray made of various compartments with various high quality specimen wood lids, all edged and banded in chevrons of bone, silver or pewter and ebony. The tray itself is made of expensive coromandel wood. There are two open sections on either side of the tray which have bone and hand-painted lac ends. The main tray sits onto a base made of coromandel wood with green baize lining. This tray could have a number of practical uses, for keeping stationary, watches, jewelry, or thinking outside of the box, holding you remote controls and candy!! We have a matching box also in our Inventory and for auction. ANGLO-INDIAN AND CEYLONESE BOXES: 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. Anglo-indian Boxes normally consist of 3 main types:- (1) Most of the best and highest quality Anglo-Indian boxes in the 18th and 19th Centuries were made in Vizagapatam, India, renowned for its exquisite craftsmanship in using ivory and tortoiseshell and lac decoration. These are referred to as ‘Vizagapatam Boxes...

White Makrana marble, used to build the Taj Mahal, from Indian is the densest marble on the planet. This handmade octagonal shaped makrana marble box ha...

A very nice Chinese red lacquer box decorated in gold and black with a garden scene. Box has a black interior. Circa mid 1800s.

This is a vintage carved keepsake case. A Chinese, satinwood decorative box, dating to the mid 20th century, circa 1950. Profusely carved throughout with an abundance of Oriental cr...

19th Century Antique Distressed Lidded Box, Chinese Paper Mache.

Indian teak work or stationary box with brass tack and applique decoration on the top and sides and fitted with brass lift-handles. the interior fitted with lift out trays and open c...

A lovely round papier mâché box that has been hand painted with a gold oak leaf design. The top has a finial. The interior and bottom are black. Circa 1960s, Kashmir, India.  

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...

An antique Indian wooden document box from the 19th century with incised diamond motifs and wave patterns and partitioned interior. This 19th-century Indian wooden document box is a testament to the exquisite craftsmanship and rich heritage of Indian artisanship. Adorned with incised diamond motifs and undulating wave patterns, its surface tells a story of meticulous attention to detail and a deep appreciation for aesthetic form. The metal accents that punctuate its exterior not only enhance its visual appeal but also add to its structural integrity, offering a striking contrast against the warm tones of the wood. The interior, thoughtfully partitioned, speaks to the box's original purpose of safeguarding valuable documents and keepsakes. Today, it stands as a versatile decorative piece that could serve multiple functions in a contemporary home. It could be a rustic accent on a study desk, holding pens and stationery, or a unique storage solution on a hallway console for keys and small items. Alternatively, placed on a coffee table or bookshelf, it could store remotes or serve as a conversation-starting decorative object. Beyond its utility, this antique document box...

A small and lovely Chinese black ground cloisonne box with peony design, late Qing Dynasty, circa 1900, China. The small cloisonne box raised on four bun feet, and decorated with a design of blossoming peony against a black enamel ground inlaid with geometric wire work in the "wan" pattern. The large blooms of peony depicted in pleasing shades of red, pink, and yellow enamel, with leaves of dark and light green enamel. The colored enamels pop against the black cloisonne...

An antique late Qing Dynasty period rattan two-tiered nested lunch box from the early 20th century, with calligraphy and carved handle. Born during the early years of the 20th centur...

A MUGHAL INDIAN BRASS ENGRAVED BETEL PANDAN BOX Northern India. 18th Century. Length: 4 1/4" in. (10.9 cm.), width: 3 1/4" in., (8.3 cm.), height: 2" in.,...

Vintage 1980s Hollywood Regency signed Maitland-Smith tessellated marble box. Cream stone background with pinkish marble & brass stripe on a rectangular form decorative box with hing...

This substantial decorative box, produced by the renowned Maitland Smith in the 1970s, is a prime example of high-end Post-Modern craftsmanship. The exterior features a meticulous te...

Sagejubako is a portable lunch or picnic set that became popular in the early Edo period when an additional meal was added between breakfast and dinner. It normally consists of a han...

Imperial Russian Lacquered Papier-Mâché Troika Box by the Lukutin Factory, Moscow, circa 1880–1910 This finely executed Imperial Russian lacquered papier-mâché box was produced by t...

19th Century Qing Chinese Cantonese Famille Rose Porcelain Lidded Jar. The cannister is of a tubular form and the exterior, finely painted in polychrome enamels, gilt, and iron-red, ...

A truly fine hand-painted porcelain round brush washer, painted in a village scene with house nestles on a grassy patch surrounded by trees, boulders, mou...

The State of Art, A Beautiful and highly crafted Maitland-Smith Vantage Tessellated Horn Jewelry Box, with Brass for edge Reinforcement.  

A beautifully crafted 19th century Anglo Indian decorative box featuring intricate Sadeli mosaic inlay in a striking series of geometric patterns. The rectangular wood box is richl...