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Baroque Decorative Boxes

BAROQUE STYLE

The decadence of the Baroque style, in which ornate furnishings were layered against paneled walls, painted ceilings, stately chandeliers and, above all, gilding, expressed the power of the church and monarchy through design that celebrated excess. And its influence was omnipresent — antique Baroque furniture was created in the first design style that truly had a global impact.

Theatrical and lavish, Baroque was prevalent across Europe from the 17th to mid-18th century and spread around the world through colonialism, including in Asia, Africa and the Americas. While Baroque originated in Italy and achieved some of its most fantastic forms in the late-period Roman Baroque, it was adapted to meet the tastes and materials in each region. French Baroque furniture informed Louis XIV style and added drama to Versailles. In Spain, the Baroque movement influenced the elaborate Churrigueresque style in which architecture was dripping with ornamental details. In South German Baroque, furniture was made with bold geometric patterns.

Compared to Renaissance furniture, which was more subdued in its proportions, Baroque furniture was extravagant in all aspects, from its shape to its materials.

Allegorical and mythical figures were often sculpted in the wood, along with motifs like scrolling floral forms and acanthus leaves that gave the impression of tangles of dense foliage. Novel techniques and materials such as marquetry, gesso and lacquer — which were used with exotic woods and were employed by cabinetmakers such as André-Charles Boulle, Gerrit Jensen and James Moore — reflected the growth of international trade. Baroque furniture characteristics include a range of decorative elements — a single furnishing could feature everything from carved gilded wood to gilt bronze, lending chairs, mirrors, console tables and other pieces a sense of motion.

Find a collection of authentic antique Baroque tables, lighting, decorative objects and other furniture on 1stDibs.

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Style: Baroque
18th Century Dutch Walnut & Iron Polychromed Domed Table Box
18th Century Dutch Walnut & Iron Polychromed Domed Table Box

18th Century Dutch Walnut & Iron Polychromed Domed Table Box

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

18th-century Dutch Walnut and Iron Polychrome Domed Table Box  Netherlands, 18th century or older A 18th-century Dutch walnut and iron polychrome domed table box, likely retaining i...

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18th Century Dutch Antique Baroque Decorative Boxes

Materials

Iron

Early 18th century Scandinavian baroque oak iron bound box
Early 18th century Scandinavian baroque oak iron bound box

Early 18th century Scandinavian baroque oak iron bound box

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

Mid 18th century Scandinavian baroque oak iron bound box circa 1720. Characterful oval shaped box profusely covered with iron edging and strap work.  This piece has taken on a great...

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Early 18th Century Swedish Antique Baroque Decorative Boxes

Materials

Iron

Rare and Beautiful Miniature Chest of Drawers from the Early 18th Century
Rare and Beautiful Miniature Chest of Drawers from the Early 18th Century

Rare and Beautiful Miniature Chest of Drawers from the Early 18th Century

Located in Knivsta, SE

Rather large and rare miniature chest of drawers in late baroque from the early 18th century. Made in Walnut with key-plate in brass. All the drawers in the dresser with original loc...

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Early 18th Century European Antique Baroque Decorative Boxes

Materials

Walnut

Spanish Renaissance Casket of the 16th Century
Spanish Renaissance Casket of the 16th Century

Spanish Renaissance Casket of the 16th Century

Located in Madrid, ES

Spanish Renaissance casket, 16th century In carved, polychrome and gilded wood decorated with a vase with horns of plenty, heads of cherubs and fruits. In the lock a shield with two ...

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16th Century Dutch Antique Baroque Decorative Boxes

Materials

Wood

18th century painted wooden sewing box
18th century painted wooden sewing box

18th century painted wooden sewing box

Located in Bilzen, BE

A late 18th century blacked wooden sewing box with gold painted decoration all around brass engraved lock and hinges Aged patina 17 x 10.5 cm, total heigth 10.5 cm

Category

18th Century French Antique Baroque Decorative Boxes

Materials

Wood

17th Century Venetian Lacquered and Gilded Collectible Box
17th Century Venetian Lacquered and Gilded Collectible Box

17th Century Venetian Lacquered and Gilded Collectible Box

Located in Pistoia, IT

Rare and precious Venetian domed case made of richly lacquered and gilded wood, early 17th century, depicting "The Conquests of Venice." Caskets like this one are more unique than ...

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Early 17th Century Italian Antique Baroque Decorative Boxes

Materials

Wood

Arts and Craft Mid-18th Century Engraved Sterling Silver Box
Arts and Craft Mid-18th Century Engraved Sterling Silver Box

Arts and Craft Mid-18th Century Engraved Sterling Silver Box

Located in Brescia, IT

This fine sterling silver box is a piece of high craftmenship. All the surfaces are finely engraved with rich Baroque decor. It is a little jewel of handmade work. It was a jewel bo...

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Mid-18th Century German Antique Baroque Decorative Boxes

Materials

Sterling Silver

Box shaped enamel hand painted, engraved and miniature Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Box shaped enamel hand painted, engraved and miniature Sterling Silver Salimbeni

Box shaped enamel hand painted, engraved and miniature Sterling Silver Salimbeni

By Franco Salimbeni, Salimbeni

Located in Firenze, FI

Box shaped enamel is in 925/1000 sterling. Box shaped enamel has handpainted fired enamels miniature. Box shaped enamel is engraved and fire-enamelled ornaments. Box shaped enamel is...

Category

1970s Italian Vintage Baroque Decorative Boxes

Materials

Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel

Snuff Box Venetian landscape miniature Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Snuff Box Venetian landscape miniature Sterling Silver Salimbeni

Snuff Box Venetian landscape miniature Sterling Silver Salimbeni

By Franco Salimbeni, Salimbeni

Located in Firenze, FI

Snuff Box Snuff Box Venetian landscape is in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated 24 carats.. Snuff Box Snuff Box Venetian landscape has translucent fired enamel on guilloche and min...

Category

1960s Italian Vintage Baroque Decorative Boxes

Materials

Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel

Table Box Enamel on Guilloche and Hand Painted Miniature Sterling Silver Salimb
Table Box Enamel on Guilloche and Hand Painted Miniature Sterling Silver Salimb

Table Box Enamel on Guilloche and Hand Painted Miniature Sterling Silver Salimb

By Salimbeni, Franco Salimbeni

Located in Firenze, FI

Rectangular box with inward corners in sterling silver 925/1000 gold plated with beautiful miniature fire enameled and hand painted by the painter Beatrice Mellana depicting the painting "The Turkish slave" by Francesco Mazzola known as "il Parmigianino" (National Gallery of Parma). Dimensions cm. 8.5 x 11.5 x 3. Weight gr. 345. Designed by Franco Salimbeni in 1965 and manufactured in Florence in numerous specimens with various different subjects, in the headquarters of the Salimbeni company with completely manual execution by artisan artists with thick slab and large reinforcements suitable for withstanding numerous high-fire enameled firings at about 800° C. Miniature is a very ancient technique which consists of painting works in small proportions. It was born for the decoration of the first letter of the paragraph of the books. Over the years, however, this technique is refined and enriched, then moving on to precious personal items. Hand-painted miniatures can be done with multiple different techniques. The most important that we use on our articles are of three kinds: 1) Fire enamel. 2) Water tempera on an ivory plate. 3) Painted on mother-of-pearl. Fire enameled miniatures: On a first layer of enamel generally white or very clear or even transparent suitably liquefied at a temperature of about 750 ° C, the chosen subject is painted using miniature colors which are as many colored crystals, ground and reduced to a very fine, almost impalpable powder washed and purified in distilled water with the addition of small quantities of deoxidizing acids which, diluted with essential oils (usually essential oil of solder), can be mixed to form a palette of colors. With very fine sable hair brushes you draw the subject starting from the perimeter and then gradually adding various layers of color. It is necessary to carry out various firings very often so that the colors harden and are not absorbed by the underlying glaze as, during the subsequent firings at 750 ° C, during liquefaction, it would spread irremediably. Hence the need to form the painting a little at a time, cooking it numerous times. Therefore it is necessary to proceed with numerous retouching, often overlapping different colors that only the painter's experience knows. A beautiful miniature needs from 20 to over 50 firings and is finished when the painter deems he does not have to further intervene. Some colors must have darker tones than others because then, by superimposing the transparent enamel placed at the end of the miniature, they fade. This transparent layer, called “fondant” in jargon, must be smoothed and polished like all other translucent enamel colors. The miniatures with water tempera colors are painted on real ivory...

Category

1960s Italian Vintage Baroque Decorative Boxes

Materials

Gold Plate, Enamel, Sterling Silver

Table Box Fired Enamel Guillochè and Hand Engravings Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Table Box Fired Enamel Guillochè and Hand Engravings Sterling Silver Salimbeni

Table Box Fired Enamel Guillochè and Hand Engravings Sterling Silver Salimbeni

By Salimbeni, Franco Salimbeni

Located in Firenze, FI

Rectangular table box in sterling silver 925/1000 gold plated with very fine hand-engraving Baroque style on the lid, fire-enamelled in 2 colours. In the center an ancient oval plate...

Category

1970s Italian Vintage Baroque Decorative Boxes

Materials

Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel

Snuffbox Vessel Miniature Hand-Painted Sterling Silver Enamel Salimbeni
Snuffbox Vessel Miniature Hand-Painted Sterling Silver Enamel Salimbeni

Snuffbox Vessel Miniature Hand-Painted Sterling Silver Enamel Salimbeni

By Salimbeni, Franco Salimbeni

Located in Firenze, FI

Shaped snuffbox in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with fired enamel inserted in a fine hand engraving and with round miniature diameter cm. 3.3 hand painted always with fire enamels depicting a sailing ship. Early 19th century Viennese Baroque style. Fine hand engraving on all sides and bottom. Measurements cm. 7.5 x 7.5 x 2. Weight gr. 151. Designed by Franco Salimbeni in 1976 on inspiration of ancient original artifacts and manufactured in Florence at the Salimbeni company headquarters in several specimens, also with different colors and miniatures, with completely manual execution by artisan artists with thick slabs and large reinforcements suitable for supporting numerous high-fire enamelled firings at approximately 750 < 800° C. Miniature is a very ancient technique which consists of painting works in small proportions. It was born for the decoration of the first letter of the paragraph of the books. Over the years, however, this technique is refined and enriched, then moving on to precious personal items. Hand-painted miniatures can be done with multiple different techniques. The most important that we use on our articles are of three kinds: 1) Fire enamel. 2) Water tempera on an ivory plate. 3) Painted on mother-of-pearl. Fire enameled miniatures: On a first layer of enamel generally white or very clear or even transparent suitably liquefied at a temperature of about 750 ° C, the chosen subject is painted using miniature colors which are as many colored crystals, ground and reduced to a very fine, almost impalpable powder washed and purified in distilled water with the addition of small quantities of deoxidizing acids which, diluted with essential oils (usually essential oil of solder), can be mixed to form a palette of colors. With very fine sable hair brushes you draw the subject starting from the perimeter and then gradually adding various layers of color. It is necessary to carry out various firings very often so that the colors harden and are not absorbed by the underlying glaze as, during the subsequent firings at 750 ° C, during liquefaction, it would spread irremediably. Hence the need to form the painting a little at a time, cooking it numerous times. Therefore it is necessary to proceed with numerous retouching, often overlapping different colors that only the painter's experience knows. A beautiful miniature needs from 20 to over 50 firings and is finished when the painter deems he does not have to further intervene. Some colors must have darker tones than others because then, by superimposing the transparent enamel placed at the end of the miniature, they fade. This transparent layer, called “fondant” in jargon, must be smoothed and polished like all other translucent enamel colors. The miniatures with water tempera colors are painted on real ivory...

Category

1970s Italian Vintage Baroque Decorative Boxes

Materials

Sterling Silver, Enamel

Mid-18th Century Decorative Lacquered Wooden Tobacco Snuff Box Black
Mid-18th Century Decorative Lacquered Wooden Tobacco Snuff Box Black

Mid-18th Century Decorative Lacquered Wooden Tobacco Snuff Box Black

Located in Brescia, IT

This fine wood lacquered wood case is painted both on the sides: there is the elegant portrait of a pretty woman on one side and on the other side, a natura...

Category

Mid-18th Century Austrian Antique Baroque Decorative Boxes

Materials

Fabric, Wood, Lacquer

France Late 18th Century Baroque Silver Box
France Late 18th Century Baroque Silver Box

France Late 18th Century Baroque Silver Box

Located in Brescia, IT

France Late 18th century silver carriage shape box in Regency Style This magnificent piece of art of silver jewelery. It is an example of h...

Category

Late 18th Century French Antique Baroque Decorative Boxes

Materials

Silver

Casket, German, Baroque, painted, Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier, Notley Priory
Casket, German, Baroque, painted, Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier, Notley Priory

Casket, German, Baroque, painted, Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier, Notley Priory

Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK

This charming and unusual casket injects a romantic atmosphere into any interior. It has survived in impeccable condition with acceptable wear to the painted surface which signifies its age and use. It is a conversation piece, a piece of acting history, bought by Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier...

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Mid-17th Century German Antique Baroque Decorative Boxes

Materials

Oak

Antique Portuguese Baroque Rosewood Chest, Circa 1830
Antique Portuguese Baroque Rosewood Chest, Circa 1830

Antique Portuguese Baroque Rosewood Chest, Circa 1830

Located in West Hollywood, CA

Portuguese Rosewood Baroque Chest, Circa 1830 Suited for Jewelry, Occasional Storage, or Decorative Use Sourced by Martyn Lawrence Bullard from Lisbon, Portugal

Category

18th Century Portuguese Antique Baroque Decorative Boxes

Materials

Rosewood

Early 17th Century Italian Red Silk Casket or Box on Stand
Early 17th Century Italian Red Silk Casket or Box on Stand

Early 17th Century Italian Red Silk Casket or Box on Stand

Located in Milford, NH

A fine example of an early 17th century Italian wooden casket or box, possibly pine, with slightly vaulted lid covered with red silk and adorned with appliqued foliate velvet with em...

Category

Early 17th Century Italian Antique Baroque Decorative Boxes

Materials

Wrought Iron

Table Box table box with finely embossed and hand-chiseled Salimbeni
Table Box table box with finely embossed and hand-chiseled Salimbeni

Table Box table box with finely embossed and hand-chiseled Salimbeni

By Franco Salimbeni, Salimbeni

Located in Firenze, FI

Rectangular shaped table box with finely embossed and hand-chiseled lid in Baroque style. Velvet interior. Dimensions cm. 11.7 x 21 x 4.5. Weight gr. 1000. Designed by Giorgio Salimb...

Category

1970s Italian Vintage Baroque Decorative Boxes

Materials

Sterling Silver

French Chinoiserie Wig Box
French Chinoiserie Wig Box

French Chinoiserie Wig Box

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Hand-carved and painted, arched-top, Chinoiserie decorated hinged wig box with original bronze hardware. The top featuring a trio of figures in a lush landscap...

Category

18th Century Antique Baroque Decorative Boxes

Materials

Wood, Paint

17th century leather studded travellers Chest
17th century leather studded travellers Chest

17th century leather studded travellers Chest

Located in London, by appointment only

A large French 16th Century Beech wood & leather chest, with iron flowerhead and domed stud work to front top and sides. Original hasp and lockplate, the interior of the box with lat...

Category

Early 17th Century French Antique Baroque Decorative Boxes

Materials

Leather

Box Tobacco 17 Century Friesland Baroque Birch Sliding Lid Love Heart Horse Lady
Box Tobacco 17 Century Friesland Baroque Birch Sliding Lid Love Heart Horse Lady

Box Tobacco 17 Century Friesland Baroque Birch Sliding Lid Love Heart Horse Lady

Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK

This romantic and charming box has characteristic carving from the area. With chip-carved geometric decoration to the sliding lid and sides, carved with a horse, two hearts and a...

Category

Late 17th Century Dutch Antique Baroque Decorative Boxes

Materials

Birch

Unique Portuguese Pharmacy Scale with Doubt 19th Century
Unique Portuguese Pharmacy Scale with Doubt 19th Century

Unique Portuguese Pharmacy Scale with Doubt 19th Century

Located in Madrid, ES

Unique Portuguese pharmacy scale with doubt 19th century. Box in different woods with carvings and two drawers. Signs of use, small defects. Good general conditions. Dim: 70x32x60 cm.

Category

19th Century Portuguese Antique Baroque Decorative Boxes

Materials

Wood

A Rare 18th Century Parquetry Baroque Writing Slope, South German Circa 1760
A Rare 18th Century Parquetry Baroque Writing Slope, South German Circa 1760

A Rare 18th Century Parquetry Baroque Writing Slope, South German Circa 1760

Located in Ottawa, Ontario

The exterior surface decorated with striking geometric panels of contrasting light & dark fruitwood veneers with ebonized mouldings, the slant top opening on later iron hinges to a plain interior housing a small hinged compartment for writing implements...

Category

Mid-18th Century German Antique Baroque Decorative Boxes

Materials

Iron

Sterling Silver and Onyx Box
Sterling Silver and Onyx Box

Sterling Silver and Onyx Box

Located in Los Angeles, CA

An elegant, molded sterling silver, hinged top box. The top features an onyx panel.

Category

Early 1900s Italian Antique Baroque Decorative Boxes

Materials

Onyx, Silver

COUNTER CASH  17th Century Flemish
COUNTER CASH  17th Century Flemish

COUNTER CASH 17th Century Flemish

Located in Madrid, ES

COUNTER CASH 17th Century Flemish in walnut wood with inlays, consisting of two drawers and a drawer. Signs of use. Dim.: 31.5 x 44 x 27 cm good state

Category

17th Century Dutch Antique Baroque Decorative Boxes

Materials

Wood

Baroque decorative boxes for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Baroque decorative boxes for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage decorative boxes created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, more furniture and collectibles, case pieces and storage cabinets and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Baroque decorative boxes made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and France pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original decorative boxes, popular names associated with this style include Europa Antiques, Franco Salimbeni, Reuge Ste-Croix, and Casa Di Sorrento. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for decorative boxes differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $61 and tops out at $18,599 while the average work can sell for $2,386.