Asian Decorative Boxes

This is an antique calligrapher's pen box. An Oriental, lacquered papier-mâché quill case in Chinoiserie taste, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1890. Fascinating pen case...

This is a box for the matcha powder using while tea ceremony in Japan. It is called 'Natsume'. It is made with wood. The design is a boat and it is hand painted. The material is with...

Beautiful 19th Century Eastern Tortoiseshell and Bone Trinket Box, Lined with Blue Velvet on Paw Feet. Ideal for jewellery or keepsakes or just as a ...

Vintage Maitland Smith tessellated marble and brass trinket or jewelry box circa 1970's. It features a mosaic of pinkish-red marble tiles accented with brass. A rare find in very goo...

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

An Antique Chinese Export Lacquer Travel Desk, 19th Century Description: Decorated with gilded vegetation and panels depicting scholars in a garden. Fitted with two compartments and...

Impressive antique Anglo Indian lidded box handcrafted in porcupine quills and ebony decorated with bone dots. The interior has nine bone decorated lidded compartments in a removable...

A custom made special edition Coca-Cola set of 5 miniature glass bottles. Each bottle is handprinted to portray traditional Chinese emblems such...

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

A small and delightful Japanese yellow ground cloisonne round trinket or incense box, Meiji Period, circa 1910, Japan. The small box of squat, round shape, and may originally have b...

Japanese Taishō Period Copper and Polychrome Enamel Cherry Blossom Box, circa 1920 This Japanese copper and polychrome enamel box dates to the Taishō period. A flowering cherry bran...

Mounted with Silver From our Sewing Box collection, we are pleased to offer this Solid Coromandel Anglo Indian and Silver Sewing Box. The Sewing Box of...

19th Century Anglo-Indian Faux Tortoiseshell, Carved Bone and Ebony Inlaid Jewelry Box with Elephant Motif An exceptional 19th-century Anglo-Indian jewelry...

Rectangular Japanese box in lacquered papier-mâché with hand-painted decoration, Japan, 19th century. An elegant rectangular box in black lacquered papier-mâché, adorned with a delicate hand-painted design depicting cranes among reeds in a landscape inspired by Japanese artistic tradition. Executed in subtle shades of gray, gold, and brown against a deep black background, this composition evokes the serenity and refinement of Meiji-era decorative arts. The exquisite decoration, combined with the simplicity of the form, testifies to the craftsmanship of 19th-century Japanese artisans. Originally intended for storing documents, accessories, or precious objects, this box is now valued as both a collector's item and a decorative piece. A representative piece of the enduring passion for Japanese art, prized for its timeless elegance and exquisite craftsmanship. Style : Japonisme Japanese decorative art Meiji period Orientalist Japanese lacquer Late 19th century Main characteristics : Rectangular box with lid Black lacquered papier-mâché Hand-painted decoration Crane and aquatic plant motif Handcrafted Beautiful patina of age Japan, 19th century Decorative and collectible object Keywords : Japanese papier-mâché box, antique Japanese box, lacquered papier-mâché box, Meiji period box, Japanese decorative box, hand-painted lacquer box, crane motif box, oriental storage box, antique Japanese lacquerware...

This small, antique table chest is an example of the multi-functional boxes used tabletop in traditional Chinese interiors in lieu of larger cabinets or tables with drawers. Such box...

Antique Japanese Lacquered Box. Offered is a beautifully detailed Japanese lacquered box that dates to the 1920's. This decorative box is artful...

Handcrafted marquetry Moorish wood inlay micro mosaic with miniature hand painted scene. Handcrafted khatam wooden box with very delicate micro mosaic marquetry from the ancient Pers...

A gleaming maroon straw marquetry box with a gold foiled base. Compact, refined and irresistibly cosmic in its allure. The finishes, colours, size can be customised according to spec...

A well painted Chinese Canton enamel lobed round box and cover featuring the Eight Immortals, with a Qianlong mark to the underside, late Qing Dynasty, circa 1900, China The deligh...

Set of three Regency Anglo Indian rosewood boxes with brass mounts. These graduated boxes nest into each other. Handsome and useful additions...

Vintage Rajasthani Pietra Dura White Stone Inlay Taj Mahal India Style coaster plates. Rajasthani inlaid stone marble decorative set of 7 small roun...

This fine and exquisite 'Samorodok' silver, gold and gem set cigarette case is dated circa 1908-1917. The body is richly decorated with various cabochon stones, including sapphires, ...

"Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) export porcelain tureen in the form of an orange and pink pig head divided into lid and base at the mouth, and decorated...

Antique Hindu brass decorative box. This is an antique Mughal style brass Indian ornate locking trinket box container. It has six compartments that lock ...

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...

Pair of Hollywood Regency inlaid mother-of-pearl lidded canister boxes by Maitland Smith, circa 1990s. The set is in very good vintage condition and the boxes measure 10"W x 4"D x ...

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...

Asian decorative trinket lidded box in metal silvered hammered and etched with organic floral design. Anglo Raj style oval form betel box. Dimensio...

Maitland Smith Lidded Shagreen Box, c.1985.

Beautiful handcrafted decorative round tinned copper Mughal Indian box with lid, latch and handle. Antique South Asian Mughal Round Tinned Copper Box with L...

A finely crafted Japanese tabletop cabinet from the early 20th century, this compact storage piece is richly detailed with traditional decorative techniques and export-era flourishes...

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...

This petite keepsake box with a swivel lid is crafted in the tradition of Indian bidri-ware, with a dark metal body decorated with simple silver inlay. Composed of a zinc and copper ...

An oval Guilloche Nephrite Jade Trinket Box adorned with Louis XV Rococo gold and silver foliage swags. An example of "Fauxberge", the box is bearing spurious marks, including a Fabe...

ANTIQUE CHINESE CLOISONNE TRINKET BOXES Extremely tactile little boxes in the form of a male and female quail with polychrome enamels. Very characterful and charming depiction of t...

Maitland Smith Mother Of Pearl Box. Offered is a very large decorative box of tessellated mother of pearl in the geometric Art Deco styl...

A wonderful hand-painted Chinese lidded black lacquer box, circa 1940s. The handcrafted box measures 13.5"W x 7.75"D x 4"H and has a floral motif on a black background. The lid has ...

This is a good papier mâché, rectangular shaped black lacquered lidded box, hand enamelled and gilded, made in Japan during the 19th century, early Meiji period. This rectangular shaped papier mâché box has a well fitting hinged lid, with the box base and lid slightly domed. The box was probably originally made as a pocket box but could easily sit on a desk or dressing table as required. This is a very decorative box with finely hand painted scenes of three people, one holding a parasol, in a garden setting, with a pagoda type building, large gate...

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...

Mid-20th century Yamanaka lacquerware sweets box for tea ceremony, Japanese. Formed as a deep red apple with gold & colored enamel decoration. Post WWII. Provenance: Sherman E. Lee, ...

Ca. 1970s Maitland Smith tessellated coral stone hinged jewelry / trinket box in two tone pale gray and pink with cedar interior. Excellent, vintage condition free of chips / losses...

KYOTO STYLE NAGA HIBACHI (FIREBOX BRAZIER GRILL), Japanese, Meiji Period, The rectangular hibachi is of Keyaki (Zelkova) wood construction with the original copper liner, and a colum...

Impressive antique Anglo Indian box crafted in mahogany, clad in tortoise shell, and ambitiously decorated with bone. The inside has a mirror and red felt lining.

Charming pair of vintage penguin sculptures by Maitland-Smith, handmade in the Philippines, circa 1980s. #5711 The whimsical pair features smoothly polished pale stone bodies accen...

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 ...

Modern sterling silver traveling pillbox. In form of suitcase with labels to fun and exotic destinations. A handy, pocket-sized receptacle for your own trips. Marked “Tiffany & Co. 9...

Japanese lacquered papier-mâché box with hand-painted decoration, Japan, 19th century. A refined black lacquered papier-mâché box adorned with a rich polychrome decoration depicting...

from Tohoku area, Japan. Japanese antique small box tansu chest of drawers, Kohikidashi, made of Sugi Cedar. Product of circa 1850s-1870s (late Edo to early Meiji era), estimate from...

An extraordinary pair of large-scale Chinese cloisonné enamel covered boxes, dating to the late Qing Dynasty, late 19th century, each modeled as an exuberant head of cabbage and meas...

A BRASS MUGHAL INDIAN OVAL BETEL PANDAN BOX Northern India, early 19th century. Length: 5 1/4" in. (13.3 cm.) height: 3 1/4" in. (8.3 cm.) width: 4" in. (1...

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. 20 wide 14 deep ...

1920s Hand Painted East Indian Decorative Box. An antique Rajasthani Indian hand painted wood box, early 20th century. The box is handcrafted of wood and feature a hinged lid that can be opened and closed to access the contents inside. Hand painted colorful Indian box with lid depicting human figures and flowers. Style: Anglo Raj, Paint, Wood, Hand-Crafted Place of Origin: India. Anglo Raj Vintage Wooden Box Hand Painted Indian Chest Trinket 1920s. Large Trinket Box Folk Art Hand Painted Colorful Asian Jewellery Chest...

Measures : 18x8 cm H:8cm Materials : Gold Plate,Silver Plate,Steel,Cast,Hand-Crafted Silver-plated peanut-shaped box by FB Rogers, believed to be from the 1960s. Made of silver-plat...

Beautiful and Minimalist Jewelry box. This rare beauty is a unique box or decorative box that brings minimal shape with organic beauty. Constructed of wood panels that have been ligh...

A great gift for the art collector. Our Rabbit Rabbit Lacquer Box features Hunt's iconic rabbits in every color - all with attitude and personality. Box...

Charming Campaign Box in Camphor with hidden drawers with details in brass and a mirror inside. From the 19th Century. Nice patina. Key is missing. Wear consistent with age and use

A handmade wooden jewellery box with a lid and lock, it is perfectly designed and created in a suitable size for keeping valuables inside. The top of this box has leaf patterns and l...

Chinese Mid-Century small rectangular hardwood box / cabinet features 2 hinged swing doors both carved and inlaid with faux white jade above a bottom drawer with incised metal scroll...

Gorgeous vintage handmade silver Vase. Sorry we don't know anything about it, but its beautiful. It is marked with a sign of the silversmith. I am unsure of the age of this object an...

Set of three semi antique Chinese lacquered paper mache storage boxes with conforming dome top lids. Each of the boxes printed Mdm. Caroline Picard, 61 Rue St. Peres, Paris. Paper us...