19th Century Decorative Boxes
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Period: 19th Century
Agate and Micromosaic Box
Located in New Orleans, LA
Intricate and flawless, the highly detailed micromosaic medallion on the lid of this agate box is an incredible example of this diminutive art form. The elaborate micromosaic depicts...
Category
European Other Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Agate
Chinese Box Cinnabar Lacquered Red and Black, 19th Century
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Beautiful little box lacquered with red and black Cinnabar forming a peony decoration. Cinnabar lacquer is an Asian technique that comes from cutting an...
Category
Chinese Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood
Bruguier Tortoiseshell Swiss Fusée Singing Bird Box
Located in New Orleans, LA
This extremely rare, early Swiss automaton singing bird box by the famed Charles Bruguier is housed in a case enveloped in luxurious tortoiseshell. Ev...
Category
Swiss Louis XV Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Gold
Swedish 1880s Burr Walnut Sarcophagus Form Partitioned Sewing Box from Gnesta
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish late 19th century burr walnut sarcophagus form sewing box from Gnesta, with working lock and key, lift out tray and partitioned interior. This high-quality Swedish sarcophagus-form walnut sewing box...
Category
Swedish Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Velvet, Walnut
Scottish Regency Mahogany Hinged Cellarette with Original Lead Liner, Circa 1810
Located in Charleston, SC
Scottish Regency mahogany hinged cellarette with foliage cartouche, gadrooned molded edge, original brass circular side handles, lead lined interior with stopper, and resting on carved foliage scrolled triangular feet...
Category
Scottish Regency Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass, Lead
Antique English Oak and Silver Plate Biscuit Box by John Grinsell & Sons
Located in Bath, GB
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...
Category
English Late Victorian Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Silver Plate
A Spanish studded leather domed trunk, C 1870.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Wrapped in a light shade of leather, the metal stud decoration stands out on a trunk raised on gothic arched wooden supports. It will look wonderful on a sofa table as a hiding spot ...
Category
Spanish Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Metal
Regency Mahogany Sarcophagus form Tea Caddy
Located in Huntington, NY
Regency Mahogany sarcophagus form tea caddy. With
Brass keyhole escutcheon.
Category
English Regency Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
19th century French Napoleon III Singing Bird Brass Cage, 1870s
Located in LEGNY, FR
Beautiful Helvetic French Napoleon III period animated Singing Bird Brass wire cage dome with a repousse filigree decorated brass base has two birds in the cage which alternate singi...
Category
French Napoleon III Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
Late 19th Century Lidded Onyx box with Bronze Dog
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
An antique decorative lidded box with a bronze dog. The base made of wood, with onyx paneled against it, which is framed with floral ornate copper rims. The...
Category
French Belle Époque Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Onyx, Brass, Copper
19C Anglo Indian Vizigapatam Stamp Box
Located in Dallas, TX
Presenting an absolutely gorgeous and very rare 19C Anglo Indian Vizigapatam stamp box.
Made in Colonial India (the Time of the Raj) circa 1860.
Prob...
Category
Indian Anglo-Indian Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Bone, Shell
Exceptional Swedish Limestone Chest Shaped like a Book circa 1840-1870
Located in Farsta, SE
A rare stone chest shaped like a book, crafted circa 1840-1870
Made of solid carved Swedish limestone (Öland) with a top nobb in alabaster.
The cra...
Category
Swedish Scandinavian Modern Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Alabaster, Limestone
French 19th Century Napoleon III Period Ebony, Ormolu, and Brass Box
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most elegant French 19th century Napoleon III period ebony, ormolu, and brass box. The box is raised by fine ormolu ball feet below a lovely wrap around mottled band. Each ebony si...
Category
French Napoleon III Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass, Ormolu
Antique English Oak & Silver Plated Drum Form Biscuit Box or Barrel, circa 1890
Located in Bath, GB
A wonderful Victorian biscuit box or barrel, always highly sought-after in this Drum form, I have probably not had one for three or four years, that's how scarce and hard to come by they are.
The fittings are made from silver plate with the lid topped with a finial in the form of a pair or drum sticks...
Category
English Late Victorian Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Silver Plate
Antique French Kingwood Bird's-Eye Maple Jewelry Casket Box Tahan Paris
By Alphonse Tahan 1
Located in Dublin, Ireland
A very elegant large French Kingwood Ormolu mounted casket of very generous proportions and of outstanding Museum quality, firmly attributed to Alphonse Tahan Paris (1830-1880), offi...
Category
French Victorian Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century Mosaic Inlaid Marquetry Jewelry Box Sorrento Napoli, C1880
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Amazing Marquetry and inlay on this Sorrento Napoli Box C1880. There is craftsmanship of the highest caliber all over this box. Box front drops down to reveal inside completely cover...
Category
Italian Baroque Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
Mid 19th century Swedish painted pine shaped box
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Rustic tine pine work box of large proportions circa 1850.
Shaped and metal bound edges and hinges. Original handles and paint.
Hinges have broken, which could be fixed but presen...
Category
Swedish Folk Art Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Pine
Anglo-Indian Vizagapatam Bombay Mughal Style Footed Box With Bone Overlay
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Nice and unusual Indian Mughal style large decorative box, filigree and carved horn.
Anglo-Indian footed domed box with exceptional engraved details throughout with filigree and carved veneered bone plaques with arabesque carving.
Vizagapatam, late 19th century.
History of the Anglo-Indian Boxes
Beginning in the early part of the 18th century, Indian artisans made what came to be known as Anglo-Indian boxes for the English residents living in India, who eventually brought or sent them back to England. At the beginning of the 19th century, India began exporting these boxes commercially, although not in any significant numbers until the 1850s. People valued them so highly that manufacturers of tins copied the designs on them in the late 19th and early 20th century.
Anglo-Indian boxes fall into four groups: Rosewood or ebony boxes inlaid;
sandalwood boxes veneered; sandalwood boxes covered with Sadeli mosaic; and carved boxes often combined with Sadeli mosaic/
The first two categories came from Vizagapatam in East India while the last two came from Bombay in West India.
English traders discovered the rich woods and intricate workmanship of Indian artisans, so colonial government officials began to recognize the work of the Indian artists and craftsmen as a source for satisfying the need for furniture and boxes, which would both serve to enhance English households in India. This gave rise to the cabinetmaking workshops in Vizagapatam between Calcutta and Madras.
Craftsmen made the first boxes to be decorated with Sadeli mosaic of rosewood or ebony, incised to give further definition to the decoration, directly inlaid into the wood. The shape of the early boxes was either sloping at the front with a flatter section at the back, reminiscent of English writing slopes, or rectangular. Artisans inlaid the borders with stylized floral scrolls and the centers with a single floral motif following a circular or oval symmetrical or asymmetrical pattern. The edging was ornamental and protective, both helped protect the end grain against the weather.
Made in Vizagapatam, situated on the south east coast of India, near Madras
These exotic boxes...
Category
Indian Anglo Raj Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood
Erotic Snuff Box
Located in New Orleans, LA
A scintillating Sapphic scene adorns the cover of this rare erotic snuff box. Set into the top of this burlwood and tortoiseshell container, this high...
Category
European Other Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Tortoise Shell, Glass
Mid Victorian Amboyana Ladies Jewellery Box and Writing Slope c1860
Located in Tunbridge Wells, GB
Heading : Amboyana jewellery box and writing slope
Date : c1860
Period : Victoria
Origin : England
Decoration : Bird eye maple box with amboyana ...
Category
British Victorian Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood
Large 19th Century French Napoleon III Box
Located in Vilnius, LT
Large antique French Napoleon III box with inlaid bronze decor, polished black color surface, inside brown velvet. Includes key.
After the reno...
Category
French Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Bronze
Antique Coromandel Writing/ Stationary Cabinet by Houghton and Gunn 19th Century
By William Houghton and Charles Gunn
Located in London, GB
A very fine antique Victorian Coromandel writing or stationary cabinet made by the world famous London box makers and retailers Houghton and Gunn, dated December 1878.
The wonderfu...
Category
Victorian Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood
Early 19th Century Swedish Folk Art Travel Box / Chest with Originalpaint
Located in Boden, SE
Early 19th century Swedish Folk Art travel box from Skellefteå Västerbotten, Northern Sweden.
Beautiful untouched originalpaint.
Decorated with handwrought iron around the box and ov...
Category
Swedish Folk Art Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Pine
Veneered Footed Sandalwood Glove Box with Penwork Decoration, Vizagapatam, India
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Anglo-Indian penwork decorated veneered sandalwood glove box on turned ball feet the sides and top decorated with scrolling leaf borders and the top with a central leaf-framed cartou...
Category
Indian Anglo-Indian Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Metal
19th Century English Oak Dresser Box
Located in High Point, NC
19th century oak box from England with lovely carving throughout. The box is reminiscent of a miniature blanket chest with the initials MW carved into the lid. The top opens to revea...
Category
English Victorian Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Oak
Victorian Thomas Johnson II Sterling Silver Tortoise Vesta Box
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive, rare antique Victorian English sterling silver vesta box modelled in the form of a tortoise; an addition to our ornamental silverware collection.
This exceptional antique Victorian cast sterling silver vesta box has been realistically modelled in the form of a tortoise.
The plain oval body of this Victorian vesta box is embellished with cast and applied components replicating the details of the tortoise's legs and head.
The anterior surface of this rare box features an applied oval serrated panel / match striker.
The hinged tortoiseshell cover opens to reveal the original gilt interior.
The underside of the body bears the contemporary engraved inscription 'July 1883'.
Condition
This antique Victorian vesta box is an exceptional gauge of silver, exceptional quality and in exceptional condition. There are some blemishes and wear to the original gilding, in keeping with age. Full hallmarks struck to the underside of the body are very clear.
Dimensions
length 8.4cm/3.3"
width 5.5cm/2.2"
height 3.2cm/1.3"
Weight
2.4 troy ounces/73.9g (including tortoiseshell cover)
Maker: Thomas Johnson II
Date: 1882
Origin: London, England
Video: A video of this fine piece is available upon request.
Reflections in photographs may detract from the true representation of this antique vesta box...
Category
British Victorian Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver
Antique Workman's Tool Chest, English, Teak, Brass, Craftsman's Trunk, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique workman's tool chest. An English, teak and brass capped craftsman's trunk, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1880.
Delightfully time-worn chest with a ro...
Category
British Late Victorian Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Teak
19th Century Dore Bronze Mounted Blue Opaline Cut Crystal Box
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This classic blue opaline cut crystal box catches the light in such a way as to make it seem as if it’s glowing from within. Note the lean cut and smooth edges of its crystal facets....
Category
French Louis XVI Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Original Painted Dovetailed Document Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century original taupe painted dovetailed document box from New England. The original brass handled.
Category
American Country Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood
English 19th Century Square Jewelry Box
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
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...
Category
English Other Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Silk, Birdseye Maple, Ebony, Mahogany, Oak
Collectible spectacular rare big box, casket, tramp art, folk art, 1885, Austria
Located in Wien, AT
This incredibly rare box is made in the famous austrian tramp art around 1880 to 1890, its a extraordinary richly decorated example of these boxes.
The object is rectangular in shap...
Category
Austrian Folk Art Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
Large Early 19th Century Antique Hand Carved Wooden Mughal Decorative Box
By Rajhastani
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Early 19th century fine antique Indo-Persian carved sandalwood wooden box.
Incredibly intricate, highly detailed and deeply carved beautiful handcrafted and carved wooden box with Mu...
Category
Indian Agra Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood
19th Century French 18K Gold Mounted Scent Perfume Bottle, c.1890
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique mid-19th Century French 18k gold mounted perfume bottle, lozenge shaped glass body set with a gold collar and hinged lid engraved with engine turning and scrolling foliage. A...
Category
French Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Gold
19th Century Buddhist Prayer Box
Located in New York, NY
19th century Buddhist prayer box. A Thai Buddhist manuscript box of the 19th century or earlier. This type of box was used to to store Buddhist texts, known...
Category
Thai Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood
Small Victorian Gilt Metal Dresser or Ring Box with a Pietra Dura Plaque
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A superb small gilt Victorian dresser box with a Pietra Dura plaque to the top.
It retains a (torn) note with a dedication dated 1876.
Leng...
Category
Italian Belle Époque Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Stone, Metal
Antique French liquer cellar, cabinet “Cave a liqueur”
Located in Delft, NL
Antique French liquer cellar, cabinet “Cave a liqueur”
An antique French book-shaped lidded liquer cellar cabinet, also called “Cave a liqueur”. A liqueur cellar hidden in 18th cent...
Category
French Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Leather, Wood
Antique English Walnut Military Campaign Chest or Lap Desk with Brass Mounts
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique campaign box is unsigned, but presumed to have originated from England and date to approximately 1820 and done in the period Victoria...
Category
English Early Victorian Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
Large Brass Pandan Box, North India, 19th Century
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A large brass pandan box
North India, 19th century
The body with rounded profile and hinged raised lid
with engraved and punched decoration
centering ...
Category
Indian Anglo-Indian Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
Rare Cawston 1836 William IV Rare Wood Gentleman Military Campaign Vanity Box
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely and very rare James Cawston dressing case make gentleman’s military campaign vanity box 1836
A very collectable and rare piece, the ...
Category
English Victorian Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver
19th Century Walnut Biedermeier Casket
Located in Darmstadt, DE
Very beautiful box from the Biedermeier period, made of walnut veneer on a spruce body, the bottom of the box is solid walnut. In the box there is a mirror in the lid and the upper p...
Category
German Biedermeier Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Mirror, Walnut, Spruce
19thc New England Bucket With Original Lid From Maine
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19thc New England Bucket With Original Lid From Maine original paint and wonderful metal handle with wooden grip. Great color and great patina.
Category
American Adirondack Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood
Gilt Bronze and Mother-of-pearl Shell Shaped Box, Palais Royale, circa 1810
Located in New York, NY
Gilt bronze and mother-of-pearl shell shaped box, Palais Royale, circa 1810.
Category
French Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Austrian Majolica Pumpkin & Corn Tureen
Located in Austin, TX
19th Century Austrian Majolica Pumpkin & Corn Tureen.
Category
Austrian Rustic Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Ceramic
Victorian Boulle Dome-top Letter Box
Located in Bradenton, FL
A 19th century Victorian Boulle dome-top letter box is a luxurious and distinctive piece of mail storage that combines functionality with ornate design, r...
Category
English Victorian Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood
Antique Swedish Small Handmade Folk Art Box
Located in Kramfors, SE
Swedish folk art box made by hand in solid Swedish pine. The box is in original condition with the untouched original paint. Made in northern Sweden around the 1860s. It has most lik...
Category
Swedish Folk Art Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Pine
Italian Wood Carved Casket Box
Located in Bradenton, FL
19th century Italian wooden carved casket box in the baroque style. Features gothic faces and lions paw feet. Can be used as a jewelry or trinket box or ...
Category
Italian Baroque Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood
1920s Chinese Export Silver Box
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Chinese Export silver box; an addition to our collection of boxes and cases.
This exceptional an...
Category
Chinese Chinese Export Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Silver
Late 19th Century Black Forest Bronze Decorative Box by Leopold Oudry & Cie.
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A refined French lidded box, embelished all around with floral motifs in Black Forest style. Made of casted bronze with the original brown patina finish. The box is marked, L. Oudry & Cie. With key, lock is not working.
Léopold Oudry...
Category
French Black Forest Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Bronze, Copper
Victorian Hungarian Ash Tea Caddy
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A charming Mid-19th Century hungarian ash tea caddy of unusual design, having applied tablet & chequered strung decoration to well figured exterior, with slightly domed hinged top en...
Category
English Victorian Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Ash
Biedermeier Jewelry Box, Walnut, Ebony, Maple, South Germany circa 1830
Located in Regensburg, DE
Beautiful Biedermeier Jewelry or Make-up box from South Germany circa 1830.
Inside with hinged mirror. A long drawer at the bottom front.
Restored and hand-polished with shellac.
Category
Biedermeier Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
Antique Figured Walnut Complete Sewing Box Hausburg
By F.L. Hausburg
Located in Northampton, GB
Complete with Sewing Accompaniments
From our Sewing Boxes collection, we are thrilled to offer this stunning Figured Walnut Sewing Box Attributed to Hausburg. The box of rectangula...
Category
English Early Victorian Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
French 19th century Louis XVI st. Ormolu and Glass box
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. Ormolu and Glass box. This most charming box is raised on four topie shaped feet below a wonderfully chased foliate and ...
Category
French Louis XVI Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Ormolu
Antique Domed Top Caddy, English, Burr Walnut, Brass, Keepsake Box, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique domed top caddy. An English, burr walnut and brass keepsake box or dressing table case, dating to the Victorian period, circa 1870.
Of captivating form and supe...
Category
British Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Walnut
Travel Case Wood France 19th Century
Located in Milano, IT
Mahogany wood trunk with brass sockets. Inside, a set in French porcelain finely decorated in pure gold and polychrome with ribbons and garlands of flowers. Service consisting of six...
Category
French Other Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Mahogany
Antique French Louis XV Style Kingwood Marquetry Signed Bibus
By Paul Sormani
Located in Forney, TX
A stunning, rare fine quality French gilt bronze mounted Kingwood marquetry bibus (miniature bibliothèque). In the manner of/possibly by celebrated ébéniste Maison Paul Sormani; the ...
Category
French Louis XV Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass, Ormolu, Bronze
Fine Antique English Toulmin & Gale Attrib Madagascar Ebony Stationary Box
By Toulmin & Gale
Located in Forney, TX
A stunning very fine quality antique English stationary box in striking exotic hardwood coromandel / madagascar ebony. circa 1880
Exquisitely hand-crafted in England in the 19th cen...
Category
English Victorian Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
Outstanding Games Box in Burl Walnut, Brass and Malachite, c.1880
Located in Bath, GB
A stunning English Victorian Games / playing card box made from Burl Walnut mounted with impressive polished brass mounts beautifully detailed, and in turn, inset with polished green malachite stones.
The box comes with a working (replacement) key which when unlocked reveals a fitted interior complete with a wooden cribbage board, whist markers...
Category
British Late Victorian Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Malachite, Brass
19th C. English Campaign Style Mahogany Travel Desk by G. Riddle, London
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A finely crafted travel desk by a noted British maker of boxes. The campaign style box has shaped brass corners, tabs, a lid plaque, center front escutcheon, and classic encased side...
Category
English Campaign Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
