Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
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Technique: Hand-Crafted
Snuff Box "Soap" Shaped with Horse's Head Sterling Silver Enamel Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Oval rounded "soap" shaped snuff box in 925/1000 sterling silver with fired enamels above and below and hand-painted miniature of a horse's head, English "Art Nouveau" style, early 1900s. Measurements cm. 4.7 x 6.7 x 2. Weight gr. 96. Designed by Franco Salimbeni in 1980 and manufactured in Florence in the headquarters of the Salimbeni company with completely manual execution by artisan artists with thick slab and large reinforcements suitable for withstanding numerous enamelled firings at high heat 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
1980s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Alexandra Von Furstenberg Acrylic Treasure Box in Bronze - Large Storage Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Add a bold pop of modern glamour to your space with this acrylic treasure box by Alexandra Von Furstenberg, featuring a striking Bronze. Made from high-quality Lucite, this chic deco...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Acrylic, Lucite, Plexiglass
Alexandra Von Furstenberg Acrylic Treasure Box in Palm - Medium Storage Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Add a bold pop of modern glamour to your space with this acrylic treasure box by Alexandra Von Furstenberg, featuring a striking Palm print. Made from high-quality Lucite, this chic ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Acrylic, Lucite, Plexiglass
Alexandra Von Furstenberg Acrylic Treasure Box in Sapphire - Medium Storage Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Add a bold pop of modern glamour to your space with this acrylic treasure box by Alexandra Von Furstenberg, featuring a striking Sapphire. Made from high-quality Lucite, this blue ch...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Acrylic, Lucite, Plexiglass
Hand Blown Murano Glass Box in Black with Bubbles and Brass Fittings
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This Black Pulegoso Murano glass box is a captivating fusion of artistry and functionality, crafted on the renowned Venetian island of Murano. Distinctive for its unique texture, the...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
Snuffbox basket with flowers, in Florentine Renaissance style, Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Rounded rectangular snuffbox in 925/1000 sterling Silver gold plated with beautiful fire enamelled miniature hand-painted by the painter Renato Dainelli of a basket with flowers, in ...
Category
1960s Italian Napoleon III Vintage Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Arts & Crafts Wine Box with Decorative Metal Work, circa 1920s
Located in Verviers, BE
Arts & Crafts Wine Cave with Decorative Metal Work, circa 1920s
Box from the Arts & Crafts period,
Made in France
A very special item with decorative metal work on top. Definitely o...
Category
1920s French Arts and Crafts Vintage Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Sheet Metal
Alexandra Von Furstenberg Acrylic Treasure Box in Slate Grey Medium Storage Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Add a bold pop of modern glamour to your space with this acrylic treasure box by Alexandra Von Furstenberg, featuring a striking Grey. Made from high-quality Lucite, this chic decora...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Acrylic, Lucite, Plexiglass
Los Castillo Taxco Handcrafted Mexico Silverplate Turquoise & Malachite Bowl
Located in San Diego, CA
Wonderful silverplated Los Castillos bowl with an inlayed malachite and turquoise edge. This wonderful bowl dates from the 1950's and was made in Taxco...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Silver Plate
Hand Carved Asian Stash Box with Lid
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hand Carved Stone Box with Asian Motif - the perfect little box for 420, paperclips, rubber bands... or next to the bed, guest room or side table...
Category
20th Century Asian Meiji Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Stone
Large Brass and Shagreen Box Circle by Ginger Brown
By Ginger Brown
Located in Bourguebus, FR
This elegant box is made of shagreen with a beautiful circular decor with brass trims on the front.
It is mounted on two circular brass feet.
The box is hinged with a black microsu...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
Snuff Box hand engraving, black “niello” type Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Snuff Box rectangular in 925/1000 sterling silver with fine hand engraving, black fired enameled “niello” type, in early 19th century “Rococo” style. Snuff Box measurements cm. 4.5 x...
Category
1980s Italian Rococo Vintage Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Dr C Dresser Attri, Aesthetic Movement Walnut Coal Scuttle with Stylized Mounts
Located in London, GB
Dr. C Dresser attributed. Made by Benham and Froud.
An Aesthetic movement walnut coal scuttle with applied chrome-plated stylized carry handle and foliate decorative mounts and a side holster to hold a coal shovel.
Category
Late 19th Century English Aesthetic Movement Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Chrome
Hand Blown Murano Box in Amber with Bubbles and Brass Fittings
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This exquisite Murano glass box features a luxurious amber color that radiates warmth and sophistication. The piece is meticulously handcrafted by master artisans in Murano, Italy, s...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
Mid-19th Century Decorative Lacquered Wooden Tobacco Snuff Box Black
Located in Brescia, IT
This antique and elegant lacquered snuff box was handmade in The Netherlands.
It is painted on both sides: there's the scene of the fire in Hamburg on the right so detailed to be as ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Dutch Late Victorian Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
$816 Sale Price
20% Off
Gabriella Crespi Tortoiseshell and Sterling Silver Box
Located in New York, NY
Gabriella Crespi tortoise and sterling silver box. Vintage Crespi cylindrical cigarette case with engraved Gabriella Crespi logo monogram and original ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver
XXI Century Italian Sterling Silver Modern Table Box
Located in VALENZA, IT
XXI Century Italian Sterling Silver Modern Table Box
Modern style 925 sterling silver table box.
The box is square in shape and the edge of the body is lined.
The lid is hinged and h...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Modern Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver
Snuff Box Monocrome Miniature Hand Painted Sterling Silver Enamel Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Round snuff box in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with fired enamel on the enameled edge with vertical stripes and fine monochrome miniature hand painted by the painter Renato Dainelli. Diameter cm. 6.2 cm high. 3.4. Weight gr. 222. Designed by Franco Salimbeni in 1967 and produced in Florence in the Salimbeni company headquarters with manual workmanship by skilled artisan artists with thick slab and large reinforcements suitable for withstanding 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
1960s Italian Baroque Vintage Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Sterling Silver and Bone Box
Located in New York, NY
Sterling silver and bone box. Antique Continental dark bone/horn fitted case with sterling silver mounts and central oval for monogram; originally a t...
Category
Mid-19th Century European Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver
Spain 1960 Barcelona Mid Century Modernist Enameled Box In Wood And 915 Sterling
Located in Miami, FL
Enameled center piece made in Barcelona
An extraordinary piece of Spanish silversmith, created in the city of Barcelona during the post war and the mid century periods, back in the ...
Category
1960s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Silver, Sterling Silver, Enamel, Gold Leaf
$1,575 Sale Price
30% Off
Royal Copenhagen Circular Biscuit Plaque & Fine Terracotta Circular Box
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A Royal Copenhagen
Circular biscuit plaque
20th century
Measure: 5 1/2 In.(14 Cm.) diameter
Together With,
Fine terracotta circular box by Carl B...
Category
Late 19th Century Danish Greek Revival Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Terracotta
Snuff Box Octagonal English Queen Anne style Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Octagonal snuff box in sterling silver 925/1000 gold plated with borders in the English Queen Anne style and sides with translucent fired enamels on ...
Category
1980s Italian Queen Anne Vintage Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Swedish Limestone Butter Box ca 1850
Located in Farsta, SE
Swedish Butter Box ca 1850
The base part is made of grey Öland limestone and the lid is made of red Öland limestone.
Heigth: 10 cm/3.9 inch
Depth: 11.5 cm/4.5 inch
Widht: 15 cm/5.9...
Category
Mid-19th Century European Scandinavian Modern Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Limestone
19thC Campaign Style Rosewood with Brass Inlay Stationary Letter Box
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous and large rosewood and teak fitted letter writing box with brass inlay. Numerous cubbies with lids for various items. Slotted back panel fo...
Category
1850s Indian Anglo-Indian Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
Table Box Fired Enamel on Guillochè Arab-Style Ornament Sterling Silver Salimben
Located in Firenze, FI
Rectangular box with rounded corners in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamel on guillochè with hand-engraved and enamelled Arab-style ornament. Dimensio...
Category
1990s Italian Modern Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Don Shoemaker Box
Located in Mexico City, MX
All original. Excellent condition.
Category
1970s Mexican Organic Modern Vintage Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood
$1,600
Rajasthani Decorative Brass Lidded Betel Caddy Box
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Handcrafted decorative round brass Indian lidded betel box with latch and a top handle.
Delicately and intricately hand-chased with geometric designs.
Used as a tea caddy with tea bo...
Category
Late 19th Century Indian Agra Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass, Copper
English Black Lacquered and Gilt Stenciled Figural Pagoda Tea Box, Circa 1810
Located in Charleston, SC
English black lacquered and gilt stenciled figural pagoda hinged tea box with exterior gilt stenciled dragon motif, original interior pewter hand chased figural container with bone k...
Category
1810s English George III Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Pewter
Hand Made Abstract Sculptural Glazed Ceramic Box. Fitted Lid
Located in Miami, FL
Hand Built Abstract Sculptural Glazed Ceramic Box. Fitted Lid
Offered for sale is a handmade abstract form ceramic box that is signed and dated by Rexx Fischer. The box is both func...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Ceramic
XX Century Italian Sterling Silver oblong decorative box
By Mario Poli
Located in VALENZA, IT
Decorative oblong table box in 925 sterling silver.
The bottom of the box was hand-shaped from a sterling silver sheet and hammered and then finished with a flat edge.
The hinged and...
Category
1980s Italian Other Vintage Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver
Alfred Daguet Jeweled Box
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A French handmade box by the French master craftsman Alfred Daguet. It features a Nordic ship motif and has inset jewels or stones. It is lined in ...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Copper
$4,800 Sale Price
20% Off
20th Century Silver Box, Hungary, circa 1980
By Artex
Located in Cagliari, IT
Magnificent box in sterling silver and wood. On the lid are set reproductions of ancient coins of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
In fact the producer of this article, Artex, was a bra...
Category
1980s Hungarian Modern Vintage Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Silver
Coco De Mer Tea Caddy
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Unusual coco de mer tea caddy crafted with a double lobe nut found on the Seychelles Islands, it is said to have mystical properties. Featuring malachite f...
Category
Early 20th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Coconut
$9,900
Indian Wood Pen Box with Hand Painted Figural Scenes
Located in North Hollywood, CA
The rectangular Indian pen box with domed hinged lid is hand-painted with colorful figural Maharajah court scenes on top and floral designs on each side.
Hand painted Rajasthani decorative writing...
Category
Mid-20th Century Indian Anglo Raj Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood
Italina Solid 800 Silver Table Box
Located in VALENZA, IT
Round box in 800 silver.
The sweets box is round and rounded.
The body has been worked with a diamond or rhombus pattern.
This type of workmanship makes the object very bright and sh...
Category
2010s Italian Other Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Silver
Blue/White Incised Horn Box
Located in New York, NY
Modernist graphic patterned blue and white bone box with hand incised horn tiles. Wood interior.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Modern Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Bone, Horn, Wood
$525 / item
Empire Art Gold Box with Jeweled Decorative hinged Lid Ca 1920
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A wonderful box of art gold, with detailed corners and centerpiece, all with stones. All Stones are in tact with no chips or fractures. The box is lidded with a hinge and has an in...
Category
Early 20th Century Art Deco Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Gold
Danish Mid-Century Teak Wood HuMidor
Located in Queens, NY
Danish Mid-Century teak wood humidor in tear drop shape with along narrow neck that opens in the middle
Category
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Teak
1980s Tessellated Stone Box with Black Tessellated Stone Inset
Located in Tarrytown, NY
1980s Tessellated Stone Box with Black Tessellated Stone Inset
Interior covered in velvet/fabric
Category
1980s Vintage Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Stoneware
Military Campaign Burr Walnut & Brass Bound Writing Slope With Leather Interior
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Antique British Military Campaign 19th Century Burr Walnut & Brass Bound Writing Slope With Ebonized Trim.
The Interior Features a tooled Blue Leather Scriver, A Single Glass Inkwell, A Handcrafted Exquisite Gift For The Writing Enthusiast.
Item will include new notepad pad, Quill pen (modern), and one single glass inkwell and Ink Pen and Lockable Key
Antique lap...
Category
19th Century British Campaign Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
$1,626 Sale Price
35% Off
Snuffbox Miniature Pastoral Image Sterling Silver Enamel Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Round snuffbox in 925/1000 sterling Silver gold plated with hand-painted miniature pastoral image fired enamelled. 18th century French style. Diameter cm. 8 cm high. 1.8. Weight gr. 171. Designed by Franco Salimbeni in 1968 on inspiration from previous boxes also manufactured in the Salimbeni company headquarters with manual workmanship by talented artisan artists with a thick plate suitable for supporting numerous glazing firings at high heat at around 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...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver, Enamel
1980s Tesellated Stone and Brass Inlayed Tall Box
Located in Tarrytown, NY
1980s Tesellated Stone and Brass Inlayed Tall Box is covered in contrasting marble
Brass trim lines the lid's rim
This hinged lid opens to a beautifully finis...
Category
1980s Vintage Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Stone, Brass
19th Century Chinese Elmwood Box with Canted Corners
Located in Dallas, TX
A 19th century Chinese elmwood box with brass hardware with canted corners. This unusual long and narrow box was probably custom made to house a musical instrument, it is very decor...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
Vintage Venetian Murano Bright Orange Italian Art Glass Covered Bowl
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage venetian murano bright orange Italian hand blown Art glass covered bowl.
Hand blown art glass candy dish shade in orange, red, and clear color....
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Art Glass, Blown Glass
Chinese Foliage Painted & Brass Mounted Tacked Chest on Stand with Key, C. 1880
Located in Charleston, SC
Chinese foliage painted and brass mounted tacked hinged chest on stand with flanking side handles and interior lock with key, Late 19th Century
Category
1880s Chinese Chinese Export Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
Geometric Ceramic Box
Located in Richmond, VA
A square blue ceramic box featuring a striking geometric motif, with a glazed interior and signed on the base Van Assche, circa 1980s.
Category
1980s Vintage Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Ceramic
Mirrored Jewelry Box in Antique Grey and Bronze Glass, c. 1980's
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Vintage mirrored decorative box. The glass box captures the beautiful gradient movement of agate stone with antique spotted hues of grey and bronze. Th...
Category
1980s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Velvet, Mirror, Smoked Glass
20th Century Italian Sterling Silver Playing Card Holder
Located in VALENZA, IT
925 silver playing card holder.
The object was handmade, starting from a 925 silver sheet and shaped into a rectangle.
Left smooth on three sides and underneath, an engraving depicti...
Category
2010s Italian Other Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver
R & Y Augousti Paris France Snakeskin Decorative Table Box
Located in New York, NY
R & Y Augousti Paris France snakeskin decorative table box. Beige in color. Overall excellent condition. Age appropriate wear. Box measures approximately 5 5/8" in length, 5 5/8" ...
Category
Late 20th Century French Art Deco Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood
Antique Large Wooden Double Folding Picture Frame for Traveling 1870s
Located in Verviers, BE
Antique large wooden double folding picture frame for traveling 1870s
With original patina on all parts It is possible to clean or restore th...
Category
1870s French Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Metal
Olive Smoke Tourbillon, a green, brown, ochre & jade glass box by Angela Jarman
Located in London, GB
'Olive Smoke Tourbillon' is a unique lost wax cast glass sculptural vessel by the British artist, Angela Jarman.
Jarman is an artist with over 20 years experience in glass. Techni...
Category
2010s British Organic Modern Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Glass, Art Glass
20° Century Italian Solid Silver oval biscuit or candy box
Located in VALENZA, IT
The box was made from an 800 silver plate and subsequently shaped into an oval shape.
The external band has been engraved faithfully reproducing the o...
Category
1990s Italian Other Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Silver
$1,200 Sale Price
20% Off
Snuffbox Head of the Statue of Liberty in New York hand painted Sterling Silver
Located in Firenze, FI
Rounded rectangular snuffbox in 925/1000 sterling silver with fine hand-painted fire-enamelled miniature depicting the Head of the Statue of Liberty in New York. Dimensions cm. 5.5 x 7 x 1.8. Weight gr. 105. Designed by Giorgio Salimbeni in 1975 in Art Deco style and executed in numerous specimens, at the specific request of the firm Tiffany & Co., in Florence in the headquarters of the Salimbeni firm with completely manual execution by artisan artists with thick slab and large reinforcements suitable for sustaining 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...
Category
1970s Italian Art Deco Vintage Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver, Enamel
19th Century Italian Ruby Glass Box with Miniature of Basilica
Located in Dallas, TX
Lovely little 19th century ring jar or pill box made of a thick wine colored ruby glass.
It has a miniature of a Basilica on top, gilt metal mounts with beautiful filigree on the si...
Category
Early 19th Century Vatican Grand Tour Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Metal
Heart table box Yellow enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Heart-shaped table box in 925/1000 sterling silver with translucent enamel fired on guilloche above and below. Contemporary modern style. Dimensions cm. 9 x 9.5 cm high. 3.Weight gr....
Category
1990s Italian Modern Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
1750 Venezia Italy Lacquered Dark Blue Wooden Box with Golden Decoration
Located in Brescia, IT
This is a refined and exquisite lacquered wooden box, with polychrome and golden decoration on dark blue background. The dark blue color could seems a dark green. On the lid bright red and ivory volutes with lace inserts meticulously painted. Inside an exotic garden are depicting two Oriental human figures dressed in golden clothes. Band decorated with floral and volute motifs. It could be a magnificent jewelry case.
One of the distinctive characteristics of Venetian Baroque and Rococo furniture and decorative objects is the skilful use of lacquers. Lacquer is a natural resin that was very rare in the past, imported from the East and used to create smooth and colored surfaces on furniture, ready to be finely decorated with refined floral designs or exotic animals.
Venetian artisans became masters in lacquer processing which required time and patience because it was made with many steps.
The Venetian style deeply influenced furniture design throughout Europe, but none reached the Venetian level in terms of beauty. The skillful use of lacquer and carvings defined Venice's unique style during the Rococo period, its Golden Age.
Referring bibliography:
A similar shaped and lacquered wooden box is presentin the Cà Rezzonico, in Venice and it is featured in
S. Levy Lacche veneziane settecentesche II, Milano 1967, tav. 444.
The piece is in excellent state of maintenance and it is guaranteed original in every parts. The surface was only cleaned not restored and it is original. The wooden dark blue lacquered box...
Category
Mid-18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
1950s Metal Studded Hinged Leather Covered Box
Located in Tarrytown, NY
1950s Metal Studded Hinged Leather Covered Box
Tan leather with green stripes
Fleur de Lis motif
Printed fabric applied to interior
Category
1950s Vintage Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
Table Box Octagonal Black Enamel with light Blue Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Octagonal table box in 925/1000 sterling silver with fire-enamelled Art Deco design. Dimensions diameter cm. 15.8 high cm . 8.2. Weight gr. 974. Designed by Giorgio Salimbeni for Cartier USA in the 1980s, inspired by objects designed by Louis Cartier around 1920 and manufactured in Florence in various specimens, also in parure with other objects and in different colors, in the headquarters by the Salimbeni firm with completely manual execution by artisan artists with thick slab and large reinforcements suitable for withstanding numerous high-fire enamelled firings at about 750°<800° C.
About cooperation Salimbeni and Cartier.
Our first meetings with the Cartier USA Company took place through the Giorgini Company, the first "Buying Office" set up in Florence immediately after the Second World War, which had the purpose of bringing together Florentine, and also Italian, producers with American buyers, who especially appreciated the artistic objects still manufactured by artisans who still took inspiration from the Italian Renaissance, using techniques handed down from generation to generation.
Mrs. Gina Pestelli, wife of a Florentine retail jeweller, was in charge of contacts with Cartier USA, above all an employee, while her daughter, also for Giorgini, took care of the fashion that in those years was affirmed in Florence with the events of "Pitti ".
With their help, we began to supply frames and boxes in sterling silver gold plated with malachite and other semi-precious stones.
At the same time, the official buyer of Cartier, Mr. William Smith, began to appreciate and commission the first objects with fired enamels, a process of which we have always been specialists.
In 1975 we began exhibiting at the prestigious New York Jewellery Association Show, which we participated in both the February and July editions, for a good 26 years until 2001.
In New York in those years the "Art deco style" was still very much appreciated, still mindful of the beautiful early 20th century architecture of the great buildings such as the "Crysler" or the "Empire State".
We then began to produce frames, boxes, evening bags, "objets de vertu" and other objects in "art deco style" which were very popular with Mr. Smith who gave us some photocopies of Louis Francois Cartier drawings to reproduce them. Thus, numerous cigarette cases, powder compacts, evening bags, frames and table boxes were created exclusively for Cartier USA which, at the time, had the prestigious "Silver Department" on the first floor of the Cartier store on Fifth Avenue.
An evening bag, with matching cigarette case and powder compact, were redone on the design created for a gift given to Mary Pickford at the time. In a 1986 Cartier...
Category
1980s Italian Art Deco Vintage Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver, Enamel
XXI Century Italian Sterling Silver table box 24kt gold plated inside
Located in VALENZA, IT
Decorative casket box in 925 sterling silver with 24kt gold plated interior.
The body of the box has been embossed and chiseled with an ovules design, as well as the hinged lid.
A sm...
Category
Early 2000s Other Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver
Salimbeni Box with Swiss Musical Mechanism by Maison Reuge Art Deco Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Round box with Swiss musical mechanism (music box) by Maison Reuge. In 925/1000 sterling silver with black and white fired enamels in Art Deco style. Diameter cm. 7.4 total height cm...
Category
1970s Italian Art Deco Vintage Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver, Enamel
