Primitive Decorative Boxes

Painted box with a typical Swedish art work decor, dated 1836. A 'timplåda' is a traditional Swedish wooden box, handcrafted with care. Popular during the 18th and 19th centuries, ...

Small Square Brass Box With Angel Insignia, America Early 20th Century. This Empire style box makes a wonderful addition to a collection of these classic brass boxes. This box is ve...

1920s Antique Moroccan Silver Plated Footed Tea Caddy with hinged lid. This authentic Moroccan brass silver plated box has a beautiful etched geometri...

Mexican chest. New Spain, 18th century. In polychrome wood. Slight paint losses on the lid. Measurements: 7 x 16 x 6.5 cm. Wooden chest from the vicerega...

19th century pantry box with lid in good condition. Found in New England in good condition.

An early 20th century bird's-eye maple collectors box, circa 1920. Complete with recessed silvered handles and corners which gives it a military Campaig...

This is an old Japanese wooden box, crafted in the Meiji to Taishō period (1860s–1920s). Despite its long history, it retains a quiet and compelling presence. The box is made from traditional sugi (Japanese cedar), whose soft grain and gentle texture reflect the depth and warmth of its age. The form is strikingly minimal—its design is completely free of unnecessary elements. Although it is simply a box, the composition of clean lines and planes gives it a subtle tension and understated beauty. It carries the precision and warmth of handcraft, something that cannot be replicated by industrial production. One particularly captivating feature is the visible trace of careful repairs made over many years. A knot hole on the side was thoughtfully patched with black washi paper, a practical repair that, over time, has become an expressive and almost artistic detail. In this small gesture, one can sense the quiet presence of Japanese aesthetic sensibilities. The top and sides bear gentle wear and abrasion accumulated over decades. Rather than damage, these marks serve as a texture created by time, giving the piece its unique depth and character. The box possesses a humble yet powerful presence—a true embodiment of wabi-sabi, the beauty of imperfection and age. The interior remains sturdy, offering ample storage capacity. It has been thoroughly cleaned, ensuring it can be used safely and comfortably. Its low, elongated proportions make it highly versatile: ideal as a low coffee table, a book table, a side table, or a display platform. Simply placing it in a modern interior instantly adds a sense of calm and visual depth. A simple yet richly expressive antique wooden box...

19th Century Graduated Stack of Paint Decorated Pantry Boxes, circa 1880, comprising five shaved splint bentwood pantry boxes with straight overlaps fastened via wooden pegs, in late...

Charming American Toleware Tin Box. Box is hand-painted in vivid folk art floral motifs of red, gold, and green against a deep black background. The domed lid features an oval black tin handle, and the front of lid retains the front portion of its original latch. This example displays the warmth and character typical of the 19th century decorative tinware, where utilitarian household objects were elevated through hand-painted embellishment. The floral and foliate designs were often inspired by Pennsylvania German or New England folk art traditions. Artisans and tin peddlers offered these brightly adorned boxes, trays, etc to rural families. Each was uniquely decorated, often by women, to reflect floral motifs in domestic interiors of the Federal and Victorian periods. In today's interiors, this toleware box...

Originally used as a safe or strong-box, this antique iron trunk remains a trustworthy vault for treasured possessions. Made in 19th century France,...

Vintage carved wood box features Modernist abstract organic form and striking choice of solid wood. Asymmetrically sculpted box is covered with a rounded lid, lined with felt fabric ...

English, circa 1870. A Regency Tunbridge Ware & Penwork Tea Caddy Box of Hexagonal form. Featuring a decorated Neo Classical taste top centering the goddess Ceres recumbent upon her...