South Asian Decorative Boxes

19th century Anglo-Indian hand carved tropical wood box.

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'...

Rare Indian coffee made of hand carved wood with metal frame. The door opens from the top and reveals the interior. Beautiful piece that could be used as a letter box or as a small jewellery cabinet...

An Indian antique open food box with pierced star motifs and bracketed plinth. Crafted in India, this antique open food box captures the eye with its rustic charm and nicely weathered appearance. The linear silhouette of the box is rhythmically accented with pierced star motifs, creating a delightful visual contrast against the aged wood. The first half of the lid opens up, revealing a convenient storage space within, perfect for keeping small items or adding a touch of history to your decor. The box is elevated on a bracketed plinth, which adds to its sturdy presence while enhancing its overall aesthetic appeal. The pierced star motifs not only serve a decorative purpose but also allow for ventilation, a practical feature for its original use as a food box. The craftsmanship and attention to detail are evident in the careful construction and design, reflecting the skill and artistry of its Indian origins. This antique Indian food box will bring a touch of rustic authenticity to any setting. In a kitchen, it can be used to store utensils or as a charming display piece on a countertop or shelf. In a living room, it can serve as a unique coffee table centerpiece or a storage solution for remote controls and other small items. In a bedroom, it can be placed on a dresser or nightstand to hold jewelry or personal keepsakes. With its rich history and distinctive design, this antique food box...

An antique Indian merchant's chest from the 19th century, with pierced brass geometric decor and weathered patina. Charming us with its clean lines and subtle decor, this 19th-century antique Indian merchant's chest features a rectangular lid that lifts up in the front to reveal a convenient storage space. Adorned with pierced brass geometric motifs, the chest boasts a beautifully weathered patina, adding to its rustic allure. The craftsmanship is evident in the intricate geometric patterns, which add a layer of visual interest and texture to the piece. Raised on petite bracket feet, the chest exudes stability and elegance, making it a versatile decorative item for various settings. Its compact size allows it to be displayed on a side table, shelf, or chest-of-drawers, where it can effortlessly become a focal point. The weathered patina speaks of its rich history and the many stories it could tell, enhancing its exotic presence in any room. This merchant's chest not only serves as a beautiful decorative piece but also offers practical storage solutions, perfect for keeping small items organized and out of sight. Its unique aesthetic and cultural significance make it a delightful addition to any home, bringing a touch of Indian heritage and artistry. Whether placed in a living room, bedroom, or study, this antique Indian chest...

Hand tooled cast metal incense stick holder in a Snail Shaped form. Vintage cast brass incense burner holder. A censer, incense burner, perfume ...

Contemporary Indian black allover ball shape design lidded resin box. Part of a large collection.

Antique Anglo Indian pair of tea caddies with silvered metal tops having elephant handles over coconut bowls above carved ebony elephants with bone tusk...

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

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 exquisite antique box from 19th century India is a true treasure with its rich patina and traces of green paint. The brass studs add a real touch making it a genuine statement p...

A beautifully evocative early 19th-century Anglo-Indian brass box, crafted in India around 1820 for the English export market. Formed in the shape of ...

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...

Intended to hold paan or betel, the seamed cylindrical body flaring downward towards the base, the domed lid showing a lotus-bud final over a flattened and canted rim, both decorated...

Contemporary India black and white camel bone box. Tiles placed to create 3D effect.

A round wooden box from India. Might be some type of exotic rosewood. Circa 1920s, maybe a little earlier. Box with six ivory dots on lid, ivory feet and finial.

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...

Impressive Anglo Indian box crafted in mahogany and clad in tortoise shell decorated with bone straps, carved and painted floral panels, and paw feet. The inside has a mirror and bon...

A refined blend of texture, geometry, and craftsmanship, this striking pyramid-inspired leather box brings a sophisticated touch to any tabletop, console, or shelving display. Tonal ...

This lovely small mid century modern brass box is hinged. Very well made. It has the ram's head on one side and the tail at the other end .Hallmarked with numbers. Made In India in t...

Very decorative hand painted in the Anglo-Indian style. Painted back and gold with each framed panel filled with female dancers and male flower bearing suiters. A colorful and fun, a...

Decorative Box for Cigarettes in wood brown color India

Indian "Bombay" dresser/jewelry box with a mirror in the lid and raised on a "tray" base with silvered feet. The exterior with exotic wood and sadeli work (micro-mosaic inlay) framin...

Fabulous Indian box made of bone and pierced brass with a wood bottom.A very nice design. Turn of the century, India.

Nice Indian box in green lacquered wood dating from the end of the 20th century. It is decorated with delicate gold, black and green pattern.

Lofty antique Anglo Indian lidded box handcrafted with a polished coconut shell enhanced with silver metal highlights including a finial handle, cuffs around the rims and animal legs...

A Very Impressive example of an Anglo-Indian Raj Period (1857-1947) mellow faded Elk Stag Antler Horn Casket Box of outstanding quality and generous proportions. Made in Vizagapatam,...

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.

An extraordinary Anglo-Indian box from Vizagapatam in fully carved solid ebony, late 19th century. Filigree ornate and sculpted floral decoration...

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...

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 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.  

Presenting an absolutely fantastic 19C Anglo Ceylonese lap desk of museum quality. We can safely say that this is one of the finest lap desks we hav...

Asian antique Beaten Brass Betel Nut Pandan Box, Northern India. Beautiful antique hand hammered Asian round brass betel with a lid and delicate engravings with floral design handle hand crafted by skilled artisans from Northern India. Indian Beaten Copper Betel Nut Pandan Box with hand hammered beaten floral and incised decoration used to store betel leaf, lime, tobacco and the nut from the areca palm. This mixture of ingredients when prepared and placed in the mouth for long periods gives the user a mild aphrodisiac effect. The preparation of the betel nut with lime stored in ornate boxes with several smaller internal containers was popular all over Asia and is still a common practice in Myanmar and India and among the hill tribes of many S. E. Asian countries. Engraved with intricate designs on the lid which has a carved floral design handle and a latch in front for opening or closing the box and for safekeeping. Nicely hand-hammered with intricate details. Please check photo #5, there is about 1 inch damage area on the side of the box. Museum quality Asian Hand-hammered decorative Islamic brass folk art metalwork collector treasure box. Measures: Diameter 7 in. x Height 4 in. The box has a rich, deep brown patina. Quality of Mughal style. A pandan was used to store the pan, or betel quid after it had been stuffed and rolled ready to eat, rather than for the individual ingredients. The chewing of betel is an ancient Asian tradition comparable to tobacco in the western world. Betel consists of three main ingredients: the areca nut, betel leaf and lime paste. Betel was, and still is enormously popular throughout Asia and plays a major role in the entertaining of guests, in courtship and marriage, and in the traditional etiquette of the royal courts, where it often forms part of the state regalia.[1] Research on several pandan boxes has been published by Zebrowski.[2] Brownrigg, H. Betel Cutters...

Whimsical silvered metal feline handcrafted with a folky charm that is hammered and etched in a decorated floral design that unexpectedly opens as a trinket box.

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.,...

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...

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...

An early 19th century British colonial powder horn of massive scale ("carried either for an entire battalion, or for an incredibly bad shot") used to hold gunpowder, with hand-carved...

Vintage South Asian / Kashmir hand painted papier mâché box with removeable lid - featuring a profuse floral pattern over the top and sides set against a black lacquer background - h...

Vintage South Asian hand painted wooden box with removeable lid - featuring a full length portrait of an Indian woman in a pink sari to the lid...

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...

This is a small vintage keepsake box. An Indian, teak storage case with carved finish, dating to the late Art Deco period, circa 1940. Petite a...

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...

Openwork teak box made in India at the end of the 19th century. The interior is lined with velvet. Over the course of its long history, this box has sometimes been glued back togethe...

A LARGE AND FINELY CARVED MYSORE SANDALWOOD CASKET South India, circa 1850 A particularly large and profusely carved South Indian sandalwood casket, almost certainly Mysore, the en...

Standout exotic Anglo Indian lidded box handcrafted in mahogany and clad in tortoise shell with applied lacy bone designs inscribed and painted with flowers. The interior has a mirro...

Richly carved hardwood Indian box for storage of fans in a fine quality Late 19th century length 38 cm, width 6.5 and 12.5 cm, height 7 cm Aged patina

Antique Lucknow Silver Meenakari Octagonal Box, India, c.1890 We are pleased to offer a fine and highly decorative antique Lucknow silver octagonal box, dating to circa 1890. The b...

Late 19th c. early 20th c. Persian Footed Wooden Round Jewelry Box. Antique rare in round shape large Persian wooden box with marquetry called "Sadeli" or "Khatam Kari" with exquisit...

Exquisite handcrafted white mother of pearl inlaid and hand carved lidded box. Small octagonal Anglo Indian decorative box intricately decorated with Moorish motif designs which hav...

An exquisite 19th century luxury sailor's box in sandalwood with dramatically contrasting bone and ebony geometric decoration and string inlay having raised center tier with sliding ...

Rare 19th Century Kashmir Hand Painted Inkwell and Boxes Set A highly decorative and rare example of a late 19th Century hand painted Kashmir inkwell and boxes set. Size: (inkwel...

Folky silvered metal elephant handcrafted with a charming whimsical form hammered and etched designs that unexpectedly opens as a trinket box.

Antique Persian Khatam Marquetry Pen Box, Hand-Painted Papier-Mâché & Wood, Circa 1930s An exceptional antique Persian Khatam pen box, handcrafted in the ...

Rare and unusual Anglo Indian lidded lap desk crafted with deer horn fragments on the outside opening to a leather writing surface bordered with tooled bone and opening again to stor...

This is an elegant hand carved stone trinket box. This box has intricate carvings of bamboo around the entire service of the stone box. The outer layer of the carving is the natural ...

An elegant rectangular box of Syrian or Levantine origin, crafted from wood with refined geometric marquetry decorations. Its design features a delicate pattern of stars and traditio...

1950's Anglo Indian, Indo Persian style micro mosaic inlaid jewelry box with lid. Large vintage intricate inlaid middle Eastern Persian style box with floral and geometric Islamic Mo...

An antique Indian wooden box from the 19th century, with brass details and weathered appearance. Topped with a rectangular lid fitted with a c-scroll handle and half opening to revea...