British Decorative Boxes

A fine antique engraved sterling silver vinaigrette, Edward Smith, Birmingham, 1839. The vinaigrette is finely engine turned to the hinged top and the undersaide, the lid is monogram...

Circa 1840 lap desk box writing box on custom side table stand, English. A handsome example of rosewood with extensive brass bindings, monogram plate (unused) & escutcheon plate. Too...

For your consideration, a 19th-century English artist's watercolour box, likely made of mahogany, featuring the manufacturer's label "R. ACKERMANN" on the interior lid. The box is b...

An Exceptionally Fine Quality English Well Figured Rosewood Ladies or Gents English Georgian Travelling Writing Slope of outstanding quality and unusually large proportions, with lav...

Very fine English early 19th century mahogany architectural model of a church, the multiple steeples flanking a faux carved slate shingled room, wh...

This is a small oval shaped antique metal Pill Box with Inlay to the lid and dating to the Edwardian or late Victorian period. The box is made ...

An elegant Art Deco solid silver cigar box of shaped rectangular form, the hinged lid finely decorated with a striking engine-turned geometric design characteristic of the period. Th...

19th century English barrel shaped wall-mounted salt box A 19th century English curved wood wall-mounted salt box/ jar in light colored wood and mahogany strips, 1830-1850 The l...

An English burl mahogany and inlay jewelry box from the 1800’s. The top of this square box has an inlaid cartouche of ebony, birdseye maple, and oak with brass banding. The box opens...

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...

This is an antique travelling vanity case. An English, leather and silver dressing table box with fitted interior, dating to the early 20th ...

A biscuit tin celebrating The British Commonwealth, both natural & architectural. The 1930s Canadian Rockies train is wonderful! Also featuring Windsor, Parliament House of New Zeala...

This is an antique lidded dish made of cranberry glass. It is a type of decorative glassware known for its distinctive pink or red color, which is created by adding gold chloride to ...

Antique a Victorian silver and simulated tortoise shell case, the lid with an applied monogram Marked on exterior Henry William Dee, London, 1863 ...

Offered is a stunning Sheffield silver keepsake box dating to 1900, with associated hallmark. This small box includes a clean interior and rounded corners. The box is free of names or initials, but would have been used to house keepsakes such as jewelry or cufflinks. A well maintained, elegant piece, this antique silver box is an excellent addition to any silver collection. Trinket or keepsake boxes have taken on many forms since their first conception in ancient times. However their purpose remains the same; to store jewelry and other items precious to the owner. Originally, these boxes were used specifically for jewelry. These were in common use as early as 5000 BC in Ancient Egypt, when the majority of Egyptians, both male and female, wore jewelry. Boxes were used to keep these gemstone encrusted items safe. In Ancient Rome, jewelry was a status symbol. Rings and brooches were utilized to represent ones status in society. Again, boxes were needed for security and storage purposes. Finding early examples of these are quite rare. Victorian and Edwardian examples of trinket boxes are far more common. This is because owning jewellery was a luxury until the Victorian era- let alone possessing so much a box was needed to store it all. Fine jewelry and other items became available to the masses after the industrial revolution due to the reduction in production costs. This led to a demand for trinket boxes, which were much smaller than jewelry boxes and therefore better suited to the needs of the middle class who did not yet possess an abundance of jewelry. In Victorian households, collectables and other items of interested were also stashed inside these boxes. This is why they are known as trinket or keepsake boxes, rather than just jewelry boxes, although of course jewelry was also stored in them. Trinket boxes were produced in large numbers around this time. Many were lined with colored plush or velvet or rich wood. More elaborate designs had interior divisions and trays for rings and other pieces of jewellery. It was also common to see trinket boxes so small that they could only contain one item, such as a single ring. Ornate exteriors were created to reflect the value of the trinket boxes contents. The Edwardian era saw the introduction of new styles of trinket box. These included small circular or oblong boxes...

English Regency mahogany box with satinwood inlay. The four corners of the top are inlaid with lovely triangular scalloped decoration. All the border molding are also satinwood inlay...

Antique Victorian quality figured walnut sewing box having a brass handle to the lift up top opening to reveal a fitted interior, drop down front opening to reveal a storage drawer ...

A Very Attractive Mid 19th Century Coromandel Wood Rectangular Work Box, The Well Figured Exterior With Original Brass Escutcheon And Hinged Lid Enclosing Lovely Fitted Interior, The...

Elizabeth II sterling silver box. Made by Mappin & Webb in Birmingham in 1965. Rectangular with straight sides. Cover hinged with flat top and scalloped tab. Interior cedar-lined and...

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...

Impressive English Georgian Sheraton Period Flame Grain Satinwood Double Tea Caddy of outstanding quality and workmanship and compact size. Circa 1800-20. The hinged lid cross band...

A fine sarcophagus-form penwork decorated box. The lid depicting a chinoiserie scene. With brass ring handles and elaborate foliate brass feet. Possibly used as a jewelry box or sewi...

A rare and almost certainly unique 19th century castle decanter. Possibly Scottish. Circa 1870. The outer is made from plaster of Paris, with detailed texture, having wooden hand-painted lancet arched windows and front door, and featuring a central clock face and medieval crenulations. The exterior is in remarkably good condition, left untouched. The interior boasts leather dividers enclosing four square decanters with cut glass stoppers. The inner edging is veneered in Coromandel wood, with the rest of the interior covered in blue velvet. Opening the castle reveals a family crest plaque...

A very early Victorian sterling silver gilt viniagrette by Francis Clarke, Birmingham, 1841. This very nice vinaigrette is in fine condition with an engine turned top, engraved with ...

Mid 19th century mahogany brass bound campaign writing slope circa 1860. Good quality military-campaign writing slope, with secret compartments. Rectangular shaped box with brass s...

Decorated with four skulls to top with titles of a Witch, King, Beauty and Beggar to each Skull underneath. Lidded.

Wonderfully styled Art Deco cigar box with a internal concertina three tier cigar/ cigarette dispenser with chrome accents. Originates from France, in good vintage condition with no ...

This is an antique Gothic revival sewing case. A Scottish, walnut and brass work box, dating to the Victorian period, circa 1870. Delightful Gothic overtones from the revered Scottish revival period Displays a desirable aged patina and in good original order Select walnut stocks present fine grain interest Warm caramel and biscuit hues dance across the fine casework Lid adorned with superb brass quarterfoil plate and four corner mounts Later silver plated shield engraved with a monogram and the year 1887 Fascia hosts a shaped lock escutcheon with inset working lock — key present Striking silk cotton interior lining finished in a rich scarlet hue The interior catches the eye with a buttoned finish, hosting cobalt blue sequins Trio of pouches to the lower section for hosting glass bottles or several cotton reels This is a superb antique sewing case...

Impressive English Georgian Sheraton Period Flame Grain Satinwood Double Tea Caddy of outstanding quality and workmanship and compact size. Circa 1800-20. The hinged lid cross band...

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...

19th century boulle casket-type letter box by Halstaff and Hanover. The exterior is finished with Ornate boulle inlay on all sides in gold and red. A del...

Set of 4 vintage Halcyon Days Enamel Boxes. "Yesterday and Tomorrow" Halcyon Days Enamel Box Shape: Oval Design: A floral and vine motif decorate...

This is a superb antique goldsmith’s strong box. An English, cast iron locking safe, dating to the Victorian period, circa 1880. Of substantial weight and presence, this heavy safe embodies the durability and craftsmanship of 19th century security design, offering both practical storage and striking decorative appeal. Constructed from robust cast iron, ensuring remarkable strength and longevity Displays a time-worn painted blue finish, contributing to its wonderful aged patina Substantial lid fitted with a robust, articulated handle for confident operation Features a working lock mechanism, protected by a rotating lock cover Painted red interior offers a delightful contrast, beautifully aged with period character Fitted with a pair of side handles, allowing for careful movement despite its considerable weight Proves to be delightfully heavy at a weight of 86.6kg (190.92 lb) Ideal for use as a decorative storage box, strong room piece, or unique coffee table feature Exudes the industrial elegance and solidity associated with Victorian engineering A fine example of 19th century craftsmanship, combining form and function with historical allure A striking Victorian cast iron strong box...

A very pleasing, late 19th century, double compartment tea caddy. This marvellous and rare tea caddy is in very good condition and the burl walnut has a truly warm, deep and rich pa...

Art Deco green stained shagreen, over cedar, the slightly domed top with a centered oval malachite disk. The box is covered with shagreen on all sides including the bottom.

An exceptional, fine and impressive vintage Elizabeth II English sterling silver cigar box made by Padgett & Braham Ltd; an addition to ...

A wonderful and most unusual Pot Pourri box made from solid English sterling silver fully hallmarked for Sheffield 1911 together with the makers mark for the top notch silversmith, W...

Timeless and iconic, Wedgwood’s Jasperware trinket boxes are miniature works of art that blend classical beauty with everyday function. First developed in the 18th century by Josiah ...

Black lacquered box decorated overall with gilt figures, trees, pavilions, and flowering plants on the sides, and a landscape scene on the lid. Brass keyhole escutcheon on the front....

An antique copper and silver lidded box with blue/green Ruskin pottery roundel and intricate strap work in a riveted Celtic design. Designed by Annie Stubbs (Anne Grisdale). Lined wi...

19th Century Victorian Military Campaign Burr Walnut Brass Bound Writing Slope With A Tooled Black Leather Scriver Slope will include A Single Glass Inkwell A vintage pen S moder...

This is a small antique apprentice chest. An English, camphorwood sample storage box, dating to the early 20th century, circa 1920. Superb craftsmanship in miniature from the hand...

A good quality Georgian 18th century mahogany rectangular tea caddy having replacement brass axe drop handle to hinged lid enclosing cavity with attractive inlaid decoration throughout. Tea was of course a very precious commodity throughout the 18th and 19th centuries and the purpose of a tea caddy was not just to preserve the and extend the life of the precious tea leaves...

A beautifully hand-crafted Ostrich Egg made into a box featuring refined brass closure details, an elegant acorn-form finial lid, and distinctive bone-style feet (the bone may be res...

This is a magnificent antique brass bound coromandel Victorian Gothic Revival casket by Parkins and Gotto, 24 & 25 Oxford Street, London, circa 1860...

A handsome mid-Victorian mahogany travelling dressing case or medicine chest by Thomson, London, dating from the mid-19th century. Of compact rectangular form, the case is fitted wi...

Pale green stained shagreen covered Art Deco box with bone trimmed hinged lid raised on ball feet. The bottom stamped "John C(?) ______(?) & Sons, LTD."

English Victorian rattan and woven box with brass handle

Mid 19th century English rosewood box with rounded brass edges, the top and front inlaid with brass lines and decorative devices in the corners. T...

A handsome piece of early Tunbridge Ware dating to around 1835, William IV in era. Made from wood this small stationery box is decorated with intricate Tunbridge Stickware inlay. The interior has been professionally re-lined in a handsome hand-marbled paper; the size of the interior would suit...

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...

A superb example of a mid century heavy gauge Guilloche and enameled Sterling Silver Gilt hinged lidded Card Case of outstanding quality and condi...

FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING Casket Shaped boulle Sewing Box with Full Contents From our Sewing Box collection, we are delighted to introduce to the market this English Boulle Sewing B...

This late 19th century spectacle case has an elegant design of lacquered papier-mâché with mother-of-pearl inlay. The inlaid decoration depicts a spray of various flowers and is bord...

19th century William IV period mahogany campaign box or small chest with brass mounts. An unusual size for this type of chest, quite handsome, and large enough to store a fair amount...

This is an antique display dome. An English, glass and walnut taxidermy or collectibles showcase, dating to the early Victorian period, circa 1850. Del...

19th century oak treen strapped barrel from England. The barrel staves are held together with hand made brass straps, secured with copper nails. The lid has an applied handle. T...

George VI sterling silver box. Made by Robert Pringle & Sons in London in 1939. Rectangular with curved corners. Cover hinged and tabbed; top has engine-turned wave ornament and rect...

Inlaid with floral sprays of engraved mother of pearl and brass From our Sewing Box collection, we are delighted to offer this William IV Rosewood Inlaid Sewing Box. The Sewing Box ...

An elegant small folding card case likely English, finely constructed in richly patinated tortoiseshell panels and decorated to the exterior with an inlaid floral spray composed of ...