English Decorative Boxes

A very fine and interesting late 17th century English work box or travelling case English Circa 1680 Of conventional form with slightly domed lid, this piece has acquired a magnifi...

This is an antique Victorian Coromandel scent bottle box of domed form with elaborate decorative brass mounts with inset attractive Pietra Dura cabochons, circa 1860 in date. The domed lid reveals three cut glass bottles with stoppers. The box has a working lock with key. Provenance: The Dr. Lawrie Webster Collection of Boxes...

Domed tops with gilt bronze pineapple finials. Top lifts to expose cutlery storage slots. Concave ebonized bases. Similar example with marquetry M.Tomlin , Catalog of Adam Period Fur...

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...

A delightful letter or stationary box Wonderful colours Similarities to Mauchline ware. Hand painted paper applied to wood, possibly sycamore. Applied hand coloured steel engravin...

English walnut and brass dome-top box with Mother-of-Pearl, ca. 1860. With 6 sewing tools, 4 have mother of pearl handles, 7 pieces of circular fabric sam...

English Regency brass inlaid sewing box, c1810, rosewood with original silk interior raised on gilt brass feet. The top lifts to a divided interi...

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

An Edwardian Huntley & Palmers Lithographed Book Form Biscuit Tin. Priced per box. Center one sold. Red ones available.

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.

A top quality example of a late Victorian writing box with an integral writing slope / lap desk. This grand large example is made from beautif...

Dome Topped Stationary Box From our Box collection, we are delighted to offer this Antique English Boulle Stationery Box by Leuchars & Sons. The box of rectangular form with a domed...

Brass bound Regency period rosewood document box by Wells & Lambe with brass edges, geometric line inlay and flush mounted skeletal lift handles. The top with a monogramed rectangula...

Offered is a stunning silver plated keepsake box dating to 1900, with associated hallmark. This small box includes a wooden interior with two slots and a blank square on top where initials could have been engraved. A well maintained, elegant piece, this antique silver box is an excellent addition to any silver or home decor 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...

19th century English painted box on original four casters. This box was used as a wine cooler.

A Late 18th century Georgian Period Mahogany Oblong tea caddy having very attractive inlaid decoration to front and hinged top enclosing double lidded interior with original paper foil landing. This particular caddy is relatively plain and simple in design, but is lifted significantly with the attractive inlaid decoration. It remains in relatively good condition and had clearly been well loved throughout its life. Tea was a 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, but also to enable the owner to lock away those aforementioned valuable tea leaves, keeping them safe from the house staffs potential wandering hands. This 18th century tea caddy...

A Luxury desk box designed by Wedgwood. This is a magnificent desk box created in London England during the late Victorian Era, back in the 1880's. The fabulous box has been crafted...

A finely crafted rosewood box from the mid 19th century possibly used as a cent or ink box. The exterior features richly grained rosewood with a high polish and is accented with orna...

For your consideration is this superbly iconic Art Deco walnut box with an iconic round shoulder edges and bakelite handle. This box is a great size, larger than normal, making it a ...

A Very Good Quality, 18th century, George III Period, Mahogany Pair Of Knife, Or Cutlery, Boxes Of Typical Shape With Serpentine Fronts And Superbly Figured, Inlaid And Crossbanded Sloped Lids, Revealing Later Fabric Lined Interior Compartments. Cutlery boxes, or as they are now more commonly referred to, Knife boxes, were of course originally made with the purpose of housing the homes most precious and valuable cutlery and enable it to be locked away when not in use. This was very important as generally the cutlery used...

A fine Regency period tortoiseshell box, accented with sterling silver and ivory details. This is a very early and elegant example, showcasing the refined craftsmanship and materials...

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...

An extremely rare pair of Regency cast-iron sarcophagus shaped strong boxes. Regency, circa 1820 Painted to simulate palisander wood and with parcel-gilt, the cavetto-moulded hinged lids cast with flower sprays above foliate-cast bands over front panels relieved with river gods within canted corners cast with standing muses, the sides with lion mask and ring handles over leafy aprons on massive lion’s paw feet; the Brahmah type lock stamped “T. Davis from London” and impressed with the Royal Crown. These extraordinary pieces are modelled on Regency wine coolers. The forms are classic Greco-Roman revival with the boat-hook handles, mythic figures and the overall sarcophagus pattern. You would struggle to find one let alone a pair. Good items for any collection. Research on going into these strong boxes but we have found possible information on the lock stamped Davis….(historyoflocks ) The relationship of King George III and George Davis of Windsor, who was locksmith in ordinary to His Majesty. Davis, in 1799, invented and patented a unique style of lock, which was also beautifully engraved with a warning not to make duplicate keys. Sensitive government secrets always demanded, then as today, locks that were state of the art. Davis locks ended up on government dispatch boxes...

This handsome rosewood English vanity box retains the original glass bottles and jars with silver plated tops, 19th century. The inside reveals multiple compartments and a spring loaded lever opens the secret drawer...

Rectangular Art Deco bone trimmed amboyna burl cigarette box, Trimmed in bone on all edges as well as the surfaces of the opening the amboyna extends to all sides including the botto...

An English Victorian period black coal box from circa 1880 with hand-painted King Charles Spaniel dog motif and gilded accents. Enhance your home decor with this exquisite English Vi...

A handsome and very stylish biscuit box dating to circa 1890 by the top notch silversmith, John Grinsell & Sons of Sheffield. Made from solid English oak, the box is fitted with e...

English Burl walnut and figural cherub wedge-wood hinged letter box with compartmentalized fitted interior, locking mechanism with key, decorative circular rope motif, and original e...

England, circa 1950 A mid-twentieth century olive wood treen tea caddy in the form of an apple. Height 14.00cm Diameter 12.00cm

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique enamel and English silver filigree box; an addition to our silver ornamental collection. This except...

A fine quality and handsome George IV/Regency inlaid rosewood dressing box, with the original sterling silver and glass fitted contents, London, 1824. The box having a lift-up hinged lid, finely inlaid with brass and bone marquetry of floral garlands & swags, the front having twin locking doors with corresponding inlay. Both the top, base and door panels have 'Dutch Ripple' molding and at each corner a hand-turned 'Barley Twist' column, both to the front and rear. The interior of the box also having inlaid satinwood stringing and three fitted compartments each with an etched crystal container...

A Stunning Quality Late Regency Period, 19th Century, Rosewood And Brass Inlaid Work Box, Stationary Box, Or Jewellery Box, Having Exceptional Decoration Throughout With Hinged Lid Enclosing Document Flap And Removable Tray Of Various Compartments Concealing Large Storage Cavity Below, Flanked By Original Brass Handles, Raised On Original Carved, Turned Feet. Bearing A  Makers Label For - "R.Dalton, The Bazaar, Soho Square...

A gorgeous Victorian Royal Worcester melon shaped biscuit box featuring a gorgeous floral design embellished with gilt detailing. The rim of the jar is embellished with bats wing flu...

A Delightful Pair Of 18th Century, Hepplewhite Period, Georgian Mahogany Pair Of Knife Boxes, Or Cutlery Boxes, Having Elegant Serpentine Fronts, Superbly Figured Lift Up Lids, Enclo...

Beautiful, Edwardian period, sterling silver table/jewelry box on ball feet, having a hinged lid and a pull-out drawer (which has a lovely, hinged handle). The box was made in Chest...

A Staffordshire Enamels Old Hall trinket box, England, circa 1980s. A hand-enameled Clover and Butterfly design on a pink base with copper framing. A Butterfly appears on the interi...

Art Deco shagreen covered rectangular wooden box in pale grey, veneered on all exterior surfaces including the bottom.

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 ...

Tunbridge Ware - A Fine Sewing Box with Isometric Cubes and Geometric Mosaics, c1850 Additional Information: Heading: Tunbridge Ware - A Fine Sewing Box with Isometric Cubes and Geo...

A stunning English sterling silver mounted rectangular malachite casket, the silver mounts are hallmarked and stamped .925 with the makers mark JB, for the renowned silversmith Jonat...

Exquisite antique travelling case or victorian nécessaire de voyage A work of extraordinary craftsmanship, this exquisite English vanit...

An exceptional, fine and impressive, large antique Victorian English sterling silver combination scent bottle / vinaigrette; an addition to our diverse collectable silverware collection This exceptional and large antique Victorian sterling silver combination vinaigrette and scent bottle has an oval cylindrical shaped form. This exceptional bottle is comprised of a cut glass body, overlaid with impressive sterling silver covering embellished with pierced and embossed floral decoration, incorporating interlacing scrolling leaf and daffodil designs. The piece retains the original hallmarked screw fit cover to the antique scent bottle...

A Victorian Coromandel and Brass bound Dressing Case By Asprey The hinged cover with an inset brass monogram, the base with a jewellery drawer and two fitted internal trays, contai...

A large antique English Victorian era brass-mounted papier-mache dressing box. 19th century, England, large shaped casket form, exterior in a black lacquered finish embellished with...

This antique collection of plaster Pantheon friezes after John Henning the Elder in a bespoke case is a true cabinet of curiosities. The oak box is carved in a Tudor style, with sy...

A Very Fine Plum Mahogany Box with brass inlay. England, circa 1880. Side handle present but not operational. Dimensions: Height 6" Width 13 1/2" Depth 11" CW5778

A charming and particularly good quality mid-19th century, Victorian Period, rosewood perfume scent box, with attractive brass bound decoration and hinged li...

Wonderful burr walnut writing box or slope Fabulous colour and figure in the wood Fine brass hardware Expertly restored Original brass topped inkwells Working secret drawers* R...

A nice example of a Victorian English vanity traveling case. It is crafted of rosewood and features glass containers with sterling silver tops and utensils with mother of pearl handl...

High quality English mahogany and brass fine jewelry box that was likely used for stationary as well. Attention to detail, originality and surviving k...

Dome Topped Stationary Box From our Boxes collection, we are delighted to offer this Victorian Hungarian Ash Stationery Box by Howell James & Co. The Stationary Box is veneered to t...

A substantial English black and white marble stone jewelry or decorative (trinket) box, in the Modern style, circa late-20th century, England. Box is rec...

A very fine quality English mahogany letter box made and signed by F. Waller and so labeled. This finely crafted letter box has 2 drawers one on each side fitted with campaign style ...

A Superb Example of an English Georgian style well figured Burr Walnut and Marquetry Jewellery Casket of rectangular form, featuring a distinctive star inlay, raised on four bronze ...

19th century English silver plated ostrich egg box, attributed to Elkington & Co. In three parts, the silver plated lid with Acanthus leaf handle, the silver rimed egg, and the grap...

A magnificent large box made from a hefty piece of English crystal with a variety of intricate cutting creating an impressive and truly glamorous piece. The hinged rims are made f...

This stylish neoclassical Mid-Century modernist decorative lidded box or tea caddy boasts a rectangular shape with a streamlined construction. The tabernacle box was crafted in Engla...

A good antique English, Charles II (Carolean) period carved oak bible or document box, circa 1680. Such boxes were particularly popular in the 17th century, when printed bibles were very expensive and a treasured family possession. The bible was most likely the only book owned by a family and was also the means of recording births, deaths & marriages which would be written on the flyleaf or endpapers. They were also used to protect other important documents and valuables and were brought to colonial America by early settlers. This bible box dates shortly after the English Civil War & the brief time that England was a Republic (known then as the Commonwealth) under Oliver Cromwell. The box typifies those Puritan values, simple six plank construction with a hinged lid enclosing a storage area for a bible or important documents. The front of the box having a carved foliate twin lunette design with a hand cut steel lock & hasp above, the box is robust & solid & for it's 350 or so years it is in very good condition! This very early antique carved bible box...

PRESENTING an ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS and EXTREMELY UNIQUE and RARE 19C British Tunbridgeware Micromosaic Lap Desk. This lap desk is unlike any of it’s kind we have seen before. From c...

Enchanting antique English box crafted with a hinged top lovingly decorated with collected exotic seashells over a cardboard bottom.