South Asian Decorative Boxes

This silver trinket or jewelry box dates to the late 19th century and is presumed have been made in India. The silver tests to between .850 and 900 and as such, is slightly below .92...

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...

Ivory and blue chevron decorative trinket rectangular lidded box inlaid with white bone and resin on wood. Large stylish Moorish trinket lidded box with bone and wood inlaid handcraf...

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 ...

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...

Very large beautiful vintage handcrafted decorative round copper box with lid, latch and handle Delicately and intricately hand-hammered with geometric designs. Hand crafted by skill...

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...

Anglo Raj inlaid marble pietra dura decorative box This handmade marble decorative box is inlaid with semi precious stones, jasper, malachite, carnelian, mother of pearl, lapis lazuli, this type of design is the same art that you see in the Taj Mahal. Very nice fine pietra dura art...

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

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

Stunning large solid white marble box with a chevron pattern malachite inlaid. Super stylish, and perfect for nearly anywhere from coffee tables, to tops of dressers or entry conso...

Antique 19th century beautiful handcrafted decorative round tinned copper bronze South Asian box with lid, latch and handle. A very fine antique Pandan or B...

Anglo Raj carved soap stone footed jewelry box.. Handcrafted decorative box with foliage design with soap stone natural jade like colors. Lined with red velvet. Very nice fine art...

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

Contemporary Indian cream color lidded bone box with gold strip surround. Strips of bone are inlaid to create a color on color checkerboard pattern. Part of a large collection of bon...

Contemporary Indian large round lidded bone box. Small round handle on top of the lid. Indented band shape in the middle of the body of the box.

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

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

Moorish decorative gilt porcelain flask with lid. The bottle is shaped into soft ripples and given a radiant gold finish. Nice decorative object with a lid in the shape of a Moorish ...

Wood with domed tops. Painted in black with multi-colored figural court scenes with colorfully dressed seated men and women. Floral borders. Painted red inside, brass hardware. Meas...

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.

An anglo Indian workbox made of ebony. The tray lifts up from the box on the lid which is also inlaid in ivory and ebony and has a bone round disc that is signed New Bedford 1810. Th...

Anglo-Indian inlaid box with elephant motif (circa 1920s). Dimensions: 14"H x 19.5"W x 13"D.

An Indian antique black box from the 19th century with iron nailheads and braces, carved wooden base and rustic patina. Created in India during the 19th century, this box features a linear silhouette perfectly complimented by a black patina accented with iron nailheads. The lid opens fully to reveal a reddish brown lacquered interior with nicely weathered appearance. Raised on a carved wooden base with iron details, this antique Indian box...

Burmese bamboo temple offering lidded box, basket. This kind of wooden basket is used to transport and display offerings to Buddhist temples, in Asia....

Beautiful silvered metal box of an elephant in a very traditional Anglo -Indian craft, art. Has an amazing age patina in contrast with the inside, as shown.

This box is wonderful. Colors are great orange, green, and gold. From Kashmir, India circa 1915 maybe earlier.

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

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...

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...

Contemporary Indian natural cream colored bone box. Composed of a mosaic of slices of bone. Also available in a larger size ( S6543 ). Part of a large collection of bone boxes.

VERY DECORATIVE VIZAGAPATAM BOX Vizagapatam, India, 19th Century. Rustic workmanship will only add to the decorative appeal of this Anglo-Indian footed domed casket in ebonized woo...

We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely 19th century Anglo-Indian Vizagapatam carved sandalwood and inlaid box Mid-19th century Anglo-Indian Vizagapatam carved sandalwood box...

A fine early 19th century coromandel work box with moulded front design and fitted interior containing a super collection of sea shells. Ivory registration number 8NEDUS4R.

Contemporary Indian bone box with natural cream colored rectangular box design Also available in a smaller size ( S6530 ) as well as three sizes of tra...

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...

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.

Antique Anglo Indian Hindu treasure jewelry metal bronze box. 19th century Anglo Indian antique metal box handcrafted with hinged lid with a swing ...

Contemporary Indian grey and cream stripe lidded bone box. Part of a large collection of bone boxes and trays.

Lofty antique British colonial lidded box handcrafted in indigenous hardwood clad in tortoise shell and decorated with intricate bone designs, featuring an etched and painted center ...

A Gujarati Timber and Pressed Tin Dowry Box, Early 20th Century Provenance: Private Australia Collection. Description: The modestly sized timber dowry box with rivete...

Dutch Colonial ebony box with silver mounts, large silver hinges and the original steel lock and key. This rare box was likely made in the Dutch East India possession of Sri Lanka, o...

Turn of the century wooden Kashmir box. Hand painted with a striking black bird in the center surrounded by red and black accented leaves.

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.,...

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...

Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely, super decorative antique Islamic Anglo Indian Sadeli Micro Mosaic Card Case A wonderfully orig...

Whimsical set of three solid brass pineapples boxes. These are all the rage this season but have been around for years. The giant one measures over 15" tall and is super heavy. The m...

Very fine 18th century Indian Macassar Ebony traveling writing box with Tutenag metal hardware, the vividly grained case with rare alloy trim, the rectangular form opening to make a ...

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

Contemporary Indian braided ivory bone box. Also available in larger size (S6630 ). Part of a large collection of bone boxes and trays.

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.  

Paw Jar is a delightful object from the Forest collection. It has intricate brass and resin inlay in blue and pink, with an endearing leafy lid. For his debut creations, Marcanton...

Exquisite vintage tissue box made of solid sheesham wood with exotic brass inlays. handcrafted by Indian artisans, the box has a stylized hand carve...

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...

19th century Kashmiri Hand Painted Trinket Box A true work of art, this mid-19th century Kashmiri handcrafted trinket box is covered in beautiful detail. Including peacocks, birds, flowers, and foliage. The hand painted detail is raised from the box with gold gilded paint and vibrant colours. The box is hinged with its original key and painted orange inside, this example would likely have been owner by a wealthy individual considering the amount of detail and craftsmanship that has gone into creating it, A rare survivor. Size of inches approx.: H 4” x W 11.5” x D 4.5” Completely solid in structure and form, with natural wear, loss of surface detail, the paint has worn away over years with damage in areas and loss of detail, The key is present however the lock does not close. The House of...

Anglo Indian hardwood campaign or dowry chest. This has brass straps, handles and large hinges on the interior. The lock has the original key. The chest is in good condition. It show...

Vintage 1950's Agra Indian Shell and Black Marble Box with The Taj Mahal Inlays.Onyx Black Marble Box with Pietra Dura Intricate Abalone Inlay of the Taj Mahal.Fine Quality Shell Inlaid Taj Mahal Box.Black marble trinket box with an inlaid image of the Taj Mahal. This unusual piece has the details drawn on the white shell in black ink, giving it the appearance of a micro mosaic. The surface catches the light and shows some iridescence at different angles.The Anglo Indian style box is lined with black velvet.A Very fine intricate work of Islamic Art.From Agra, India. Circa 1950's.Great gift to express your Love.From a Private Estate Encino Collection. DIMENSIONS: Height: 1.75 in.Width: 3.75 in.Depth: 2.75 in.About the Taj Mahal: The Taj Mahal is a world-renowned monument located in Agra, India. It is considered one of the most iconic examples of Mughal architecture and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here's some information about the Taj Mahal: 1) History: The Taj Mahal was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century as a mausoleum for his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632 and was completed in 1653. 2) Architecture: The Taj Mahal combines elements of Islamic, Persian, Ottoman Turkish, and Indian architectural styles. It is primarily made of white marble, with intricate inlay work using semi-precious stones. The central structure is a large dome surrounded by four minarets at each corner. 3) Symbolism: The Taj Mahal is often regarded as a symbol of love. It was built as a testament to Emperor Shah Jahan's eternal love for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The gardens and reflecting pool in front of the Taj Mahal add to its romantic ambiance. 4) Location: The Taj Mahal is situated on the right bank of the Yamuna River in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. Agra is located approximately 200 kilometers (125 miles) southeast of India's capital, New Delhi. 5) Visitors: The Taj Mahal attracts millions of visitors from around the world each year. It is open to the public, except on Fridays when it is reserved for Islamic prayers...

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...

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...

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 ...