Asian Decorative Boxes

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...

Trunks and storage chests were the most ubiquitous form of household storage throughout the Ming and Qing dynasties. Used to store clothes, linens and other household items, trunks w...

Vintage Japanese porcelain vintage trinket boxes with lid, set of 3. Vintage Asian porcelain Japanese trinket boxes with Geishas figures wearing traditional kimonos. Japanese porcelain decorative box, each box with a different design, perfect for storing small items or use them as decorative boxes on a table or shelf. Asian Trinket Box...

A vintage Japanese Tsuzuri bako, writing box. with an unusual, deeply carved relief of Japanese sarcandra glabra, a woody herbal sub-shrub native to Asia with deep green glossy leave...

This 20th century treasure chest with hand-carved details comes from Madura Island, Indonesia. This chest is made of a rectangular wood box mounted on a carved base featuring gilt fo...

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 ...

A large Japanese lacquer box with elaborate Maki-e design from Meiji period, (mid-late 19th century). The generous size of the box was reser...

Refined and sensual small accessories for the desk or vanity have been loved and enjoyed by collectors or aesthetes for many centuries. Examples of beautiful, delicate workmanship ca...

This early 20th-century lock box is minimal and elegant, crafted of pine with dovetail corners and a brushed finish of burgundy lacquer. Unlike Chinese tabletop chests used for seals...

Hand made, large scale document/keepsake box clad in hand dyed black, grey bone tiles in a striped pattern. Hand polished, some with hand etching detail.

In many southeast Asian cultures, offering guests a betel quid to chew was the fundamental symbol of hospitality. A blend of leaves, nuts, seasonings, and sometimes tobacco, betel was kept in finely worked and decorated boxes. This round betel box...

Nice Quality with superb decoration. Additional information: Material: Bronze / Copper Region of Origin: Japan Period: 19th century Meiji Periode (1867-1912) Condition: Some small ...

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...

Chinese black lacquer box dating from the early 19th century, circa 1800 to 1820. This piece was originally the interior compartment of a larger wo...

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 ...

Vintage lidded box crafted in steer horn elements with metal spacers and having a carved penshell handle and feet.

A Chinese vintage blanket chest from the mid 20th century, with brass hardware. Created in China during the midcentury period, this vintage blank...

A portable stacking box featuring five separate tiers, crafted from limewood and originally coated in black lacquer. Remnants of the lacquer are still visible, lending the container ...

Persian hand painted lacquer pen box in rectangular shape. Decorated with floral designs on gold background, black interior. Moorish Mughal pen box papier maché with miniature floral painting in the Persian style. Great Islamic Art collector museum quality piece on this miniature painting on box. Nice Mughal Indo Persian pen Box...

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...

"Vintage Chinese red and gold painted decorative wooden box with a metal latch and band around the base and an ornately carved handle featuring a ...

We are offering a beautiful elegant natural tessellated fossilized stone and brass inlay decorative jewelry/stash box. Attributed to Maitland Smith and comes with a card describing t...

This is a wonderfully simple yet beautiful tessellated stone veneered trunk. The manufacturing tag is still on the underside of the trunk and reads "Alexvale Furniture, Inc/ Philippines// item number///date. The featured stone specimens have been placed closely together and their sizes range from about 1" x 3" to 2"x 5" of different sizes. Different shades of beige dominate the color scheme while subtle hints of grey, yellow , and orange can be seen throughout the piece. Fine brass inlays run vertically on the top and front of the trunk. A brass inlaid circle...

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...

Decorative Mughal Raj Vizagapatam Carved Veneered Bone Jewelry Rectangular shape Box. Vintage Asian lidded box crafted with bone finely engraved and hand painted in black with geometric Moorish designs. Delightful Anglo Indian footed box crafted with an intricate patterned polished bone inlay mosaic over a wood frame. Handmade in Vizagapatam, India, mid 20th century. Elegant intricate pattern. A true work of Islamic artwork...

A wonderful artistic Art Deco Porcelain box with corresponding lid - made inJapan, the piece is a treasure as a decorative piece. The box has a slight octagonal design, making it even more special. A compliment to any shelf, cocktail table or side table. The piece is large enough to hold desk supplies...

Antique Chinese leather box - circa mid-19th century This antique Chinese box was handcrafted from leat Measures : 22x13cm H:8cm Materials...

Japanese Modern silver box, ca 1920. Rectangular with curved corners; corner bracket supports. Cover top has centrally applied gilt chrysanthemum flowerhead and engraved corner cloud...

This charming old Japanese round box is crafted from lightweight papier-mâché and finished in a deep, glossy black lacquer that highlights its graceful form. The surface features han...

Antique Chinese Chinoiserie Wooden box with Handpainted inserts. Mother of Pearl decorative buttons. Double sides doors with compartments for small sculptures. Great piece.

Beautifully rare, this superb silver-mounted cut glass toilette box was crafted by legendary Russian jeweler and artisan Peter Carl Fabergé. The rou...

This enchanting vintage basket is a masterful example of the traditional Shanghai weave, showcasing the intricate artistry of Chinese basketry. The oval-shaped box is meticulously ha...

A lovely Chinese turquoise cloisonne trinket box with images of the Hundred Antiques, Republic Period, circa 1920, China. The rectangular box de...

A beautiful colorful decorative box with a lid created from Carrara marble and inlaid with a variety of semi-precious stones. The sides are inlaid with a variety of stones in abstrac...

A petite 19th-century canister once used to store a smoker's personal supply of opium paste. A keepsake from a bygone era, the small box is formed of brass with a copper interior and...

Large Post Modern 1980s Maitland Smith decorative box made of a square wood bottom covered in brown leather and top lid covered with zebra hide with a round polished brass and hyde p...

Pumpkin shape life size tessellated storage box with brass stem and leaf attributed to Maitland-Smith.

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Chinese export silver box with lock; an addition to our oriental silver collection. This exceptional antique Chinese Export Silver (CES) locking box has a rectangular form. The surface of this antique box with lock is embellished with a chased decorated matte texture with a variety of embossed and chased decorated stemmed floral and foliate designs to the sides, including cherry blossom and iris arrangements. The upper surface of the cover is ornamented with an embossed and chased decorated scene depicting a grassy terrain surrounding a tree with fan shaped leaves by the side of a winding stream, with a traditional Chinese crane...

Antique Oriental Chinese Export Black Lacquered Gilt Painted Covered Box 1940s. Large Asian Chinese black lacquered tea box with nume...

A lacquered wood box with lid from Japan circa 19th century Meiji Period. The finely decorated box was used to store paper slips and small documents on the desk. It is overall finished with black lacquer (kuro) with sparse Mura-Nashiji effect outside and on the top surface of the lid, there are three Komainu, (sometimes known as Shishi or Japanese lions) frolicking and forming a circle in lively motion. Komainu are auspicious animals in Japanese cultures in both Shinto and Buddhism tradition. Originally from China, these animals symbolizes guardians to ward off evil spirits. Hiramaki-e was used in combination with carving and combing to render the lions with various surface textures. A gilt border with an slight angle was given to the lid and even the thin band is decorated with miniature floral scrolls. The interior of the box was finished in a dense nashiji. Underneath the lid, a cluster of peonies open lavishly by two gentle mounts. Takamaki-e (high relief) in both gold and silver were...

Intriguing antique Anglo Indian lidded box handcrafted in porcupine quills and ebony in a hexagon form decorated with bone dots. The interior is lined with felt and features a painte...

This Antique lacquered painted lunch box from China has about 100 years history and still maintained very good condition. There are some traditiona...

A pair of Japanese lacquered lidded Hokai boxes with chased brass hardware and original ropes. Hokai boxes are traditionally used in Japan as the containers ...

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 beautiful unique Indian motif box with a lid. This piece would be fantastic for storing cigars, tv remotes, or miscellaneous items on a dresser or coffee table. The top of the box ...

Chinese Mid-Century small rectangular hinged chest with metal latch and two side ring handles, hand painted featuring two exotic birds (depicted on the top and front), pine, berries,...

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 antique jubako (stack boxes) with five tiers in an elongated octagon shape circa 19th century (end of Edo or beginning of Meiji period). jubako was traditionally used to store and...

Soviet Mstyora Firebird Lacquer Box Signed by V. Snyatkov, circa 1980 Large Soviet Russian Mstyora lacquer box depicting the Firebird, hand-painted and signed by V. Snyatkov, circa ...

Collectible Chinese Tibetan Gilt Brass Metal Filigree with Turquoise and Coral beads round Box Handcrafted round Tibetan, Nepalese decorative brass trinket wish box with pull-off lid...

Japan, late Edo, two big octagonal covered shell game boxes resting on footed stands, with makie-e decorations depicting flowering vines on a black lacquer ground, They are still in ...

A Japanese ink stone box (known as Suzuribako) with exquisite maki-e decoration from Edo period (circa mid-18th century). The box features a rectang...

A fine Korean iron box with intricate silver inlay dated to the late Joseon Dynasty circa 19th century. The body of the box is made from iron of a heavy weight although the wear on t...

19th century Chinese lacquer sewing box from the Qing Dynasty. Decorated beautifully all over with intricate designs and images of ancient C...

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

This is an antique patinated bronze sculpture of a stylized form peacock. Used as a betel box or tobacco opium box. Produced using the traditional 'lost wax'...

A Vintage Japanese Black and Red Lacquer Decorative Lidded Box Description: This octagonal lacquer box features an elegant, hand-painted scene of vibrant red and orange lotus flower...

Openwork wooden box, worked with a decoration of flowers and animals; the lid is enhanced with a bone net; iron fasteners Work in the style of the workshops of Abramtsevo and Elen...

The dense carving of this 19th century South Indian sandalwood jewellery box is so lively and animated.

An exquisite example of Burmese artistry, this palm-sized container dates to the late 19th century and was likely originally used as a betel box (kun-it). A blend of betel leaves, ar...