Inlay Decorative Boxes

Austro-Hungarian empire mechanical vesta tinder case made by Karl Rössler Beautiful antique fusee vesta tinder case, created in Vienna Austria around the...

Varnished, burl wood sewing box, decorated with Greek frieze and brass inlays. The box contains a mirror and sewing utensils made of bone and brass, as...

With a Fitted Sewing Box Interior From our Tunbridge Ware collection, we are delighted to offer this Tunbridge Ware Sewing Box. The Rosewood box of rectangular form extensively inla...

Beautiful Nicole Frères Music Box, Geneva, circa 1860 This outstanding music box was crafted around 1860 by Nicole Frères, the most renowned and sought-after maker of fine music box...

Exquisite handcrafted white mother of pearl inlaid and hand carved lidded box. Small octagonal Anglo Indian decorative box intricately decorated with Moorish motif designs which hav...

A gorgeous decorative box in creme shagreen by R & Y Augousti, renowned for their expert craftsmanship and luxury design. The lid is adorned with brass inlay and features an intricat...

A fine Korean iron box with intricate silver inlay dated to the late Joseon Dynasty circa 19th century. The body of the box is made from iron of a heavy weight although the wear on t...

Victorian English bird's eye maple lap desk, with ebony and mother-of-pearl inlay. The dome shaped top has a brass shield medallion in the center. The interior has a vibrant purple f...

English Georgian (18/19th Century) mahogany tea caddy box on bracket feet with inlaid satinwood and ebony banding and a hinged stepped up top with a brass handle and escutcheon

PRESENTING A LOVELY 19C Anglo Indian Highly Carved Sadeli Mosaic Inlaid Sewing Box. Made in Bombay, India, circa 1880. The box is made of sandalwood with highly carved raised teak wood panels on all sides, depicting temple scenes, animals and foliage. The box is in a sarcophagus form. It is edged in bone (and we can tell it is bone and not ivory, from the color and evidence of capillaries, which are not found in ivory), and banded with Bombay Sadeli mosaic and ebony veneer. The lid opens to reveal a removable tray with various open compartments and lidded compartments. 5 lidded compartments, 1 unlidded compartment and 8 holders for thimbles, etc The tray lifts to reveal a blue velvet (original) lined section, for storing jewelry etc, with sections for collars etc. The inside of the lid has a removable mirror (the mirror is missing on this one but can easily be replaced). Behind the mirror is the original green velvet lining. It has its original brass carry handles on the sides and sits on 4 silvered button feet (of recent origin). Some repairs to the exterior and condition issues (priced accordingly), but still a LOVELY COLLECTIBLE box! 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! 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...

Moorish Spain Arch Top Intricate detailed wood inlaid Marquetry Jewelry box. An Hispano Moresque Arch Top Wood Inlaid Marquetry Jewelry Box Casket. Moori...

A very fine Italian marquetry box dating to circa 1860 and made in the Sorrento region of Italy where local craftsmen were renowned for making ...

Rare marquetry cocktail bar with Charles X-inspired motifs or Victorian-style opening onto an interior with spaces for seven glasses, a shaker, two carafes, a mixing spoon holder, tw...

A finely crafted antique wood marquetry box with hinged lid and green fabric interior. This box has a refined geometric design featuring bot...

18th century inlaid mahogany Georgian serpentine knife box circa 1790 Good quality decorative box, serpentine fronted and an inlaid with a shell patera to the hinged lid. Many other...

This antique and elaborate wooden jewelry casket or box is unsigned, but presumed to have been made in Austria in approximately 1880 in a Gothic Revival style. The box has two tiers ...

A gorgeous Kifu Paris decorative box in creme shagreen over a rich walnut base, exuding elegance and craftsmanship. The lid features an expertly crafted celestial motif, incorporatin...

Antique Biedermeier Jewelry Box from South Germany circa 1830 Walnut and mahogany wood. Inlays in maple and walnut and putty. Ebonized base. Interior stained in black. Brass lock and...

This mother-of-pearl inlay perfume box is a rare and complete treasure from the famed Palais-Royal of France’s Second Empire. The box is a work of art, meticulously fashioned to deli...

Handcrafted marquetry Middle Eastern Moorish wood inlay micro mosaic with miniature hand painted scene of birds. Handcrafted khatam wooden box ...

Long ago, this elegant rosewood box was used by a Qing-dynasty lady to store her favorite pieces of jewelry, each drawer filled with jades, pearls, coral necklaces, and hair pins. Th...

A sailor's ditty box for holding a sailor's valuables (mending needles, thread, pipe tobacco, razor, mementos, etc.) having a mirrored and gilt framed interior lid, with pull-out com...

Marqueterie de paille, boîte en bon état du XIXe siècle

Beautiful music box by Bendon. Made in about 1880 in Switserland by this well known manufacturer. The mechanism plays 8 tunes on a 28cm cylinder as indicated on the original 'Bendon'...

Tunbridge trinket box made in England in the 1870s. Wooden floral design. Tunbridge wooden trinket box made in England in the 1870s. Tunbridge war...

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.

A brilliant Kazaribako "Ornamented Box" made of glass by Japanese artist Kyohei Fujita (1921-2004) circa 1990s. The hand-blown green glass box featur...

Antique Dutch Marquetry Walnut Box in Octagonal Shape, Circa 1880.

An absolutely lovely Korean black lacquer and abalone shell inlaid box in the form of a pair of Mandarin ducks, early 20th century, Korea. The ...

19th century book shaped inlaid olive box circa 1890. Unusual Italian keep sake box made in olive wood.  Inlaid top surface with musical instrument, flowers and a faux peeled back c...

Caruso wooden box is handmade from precious type of wood in the workshop of Ivan Paradisi Atelier. Its simple, like the famous accompaniment to Caruso song, design doesn’t need more ...

Elegant vintage footed wooden music box with top finely hand painted and inlaid with foliages floral decor. Vintage Italian wooden music box with marquetry inlay featuring a lute and...

A Kazaribako "Ornamented Box" made of glass by Japanese artist Kyohei Fujita (1921-2004) circa 1990s. The hand-blown glass box is substantial in size and weight. It features a hexago...

A beautiful charcoal shagreen quilted box by Kifu Paris. This natural skin piece is entirely handmade by master artisans to the highest quality, constructed...

A fine Korean iron box that was traditionally used to store tobacco leaves dated to the late Joseon Dynasty circa 19th century. The box is made from iron and has a heavy weight, although the wears along the edges of the lid and base exposes a bronze metal color underneath, indicating the iron metal may contains a high level of copper. The surface was beautifully decorated with elaborate silver inlay that covers the entire surface except the base. The extraordinary workmanship depicts a pair of deer within the circled square (shape of heaven and earth) and a lined background on the long sides and a crane with spread wings on the shorter sides. Both animals were associated with longevity. Their eyes were highlighted with copper inlay, adding a lively touch to the animation. The lid is centered with a Chinese character "Xi" (Paired-Hui in Korean), which means double happiness. (In Chinese culture, it is often used in a wedding ceremony). The large symbol was set on geometrical background of tightly scrolling diamond pattern surrounded by stylized Ruyi mushroom heads, another floral longevity symbol. Archaic fret cloud band borders the entire perimeters of the lid and the container. Tobacco was introduced to Korean in the first half of the 17th century and gradually gained popularity. When the tobacco was started being smoked in shredded form instead of rolled leaves, there rose the production of the smoking accessories, with some in fine quality as luxury items for the elite. The accoutrement such as this box is a fine example made in late Joseon dynasty, using extensive silver inlay, a technique called "jjoeum-ipsa", in which the silver wires were hammered into the scorched iron surface to create the elaborate design. Similar boxes with variation of shape and motifs are in the collection of several major museums. Compare the box with item Gu 754 in the National Museum of Korea; item 22.78 in MET NYC and M.240:1, 2-1926 in V& A Museum in London. The most closely related example we found is item C232 in the collection of the Museum of East Asian Art...

A gorgeous Kifu Paris decorative box in black penshell over a sleek walnut base, combining luxury and craftsmanship. The lid of the box is a masterpiece, featuring a double panther m...

Galle district, 18th century The box is made of amboyna burr with inlays of ebony, bone and burr wood and has several interior compartments, all made with the utmost attention to de...

Large early Victorian box, Mahogany on oak, England circa 1840 Large body in mahogany veneered on oak. In the lid with fan inlay work in maple. Standing on 4 carved feet. Inside with 1 brass...

This is a fine example of an early 20th C rectangular bronze betal nut box with beautiful and elaborate silver inlay from Mindanao in the Philippines. The box has a handle on each si...

Beautiful antique writing box from the historicism / Victorian style from England, 2nd half of the 19th century. Walnut veneered inlaid with various colored woods. Can be opened ...

Vintage Hexagonal mosaic faux tortoise shell wooden box by Maitland-Smith with brass inlay. Made in the 1990's in an art deco style. Maitland-Smith Label still on the bottom with bra...

A very fine and visually striking Biedermeier Period tea caddy of exceptional quality, demonstrating a highly elevated form and a most complex application of exotic woods. The hinged...

Restored Biedermeier Jewelry Box from South Germany around 1820 Cherry veneered on softwood with inlays in ash veneer. Brass fittings, hinges and working lock. Restored and hand-poli...

19th century Anglo-Indian Mughal wood box, inlaid and hand carved with the Taj Mahal and some flowers all around. Jewelry box, Anglo-Raj box from India in great condition. Nice Mughal Bombay Box...

Faux tortoiseshell Cabinet with top and sides decorated with inlays of bone and different kinds of wood, creating geometric figures. The front is made up of 6 drawers framed by strip...

Precious rectangular sewing box in rosewood veneer called. Uncovered, it presents a mirror with braids on the back of the lid. This charming sewing set is lined with moire and pink velvet and is composed of two small square porcelain bottles with openwork polychrome flowers, marked "L" on the bottom, a removable rectangular pad supporting two spools of gold thread and finely chiseled with a central chiseled cartridge-shaped, overhung by a button. A central tray on a raised base holds five sewing items...

A 17th century silver mounted Coromandel wood with mother of pearl inlay traveling box with a Interior fitted with drawers and a reliquary cabinet. W...

A very fine late 18th century, George III period mahogany knife box or cutlery canteen with fitted interior. Figured sloping lid over a serpentine front with satinwood crossbanding a...

According to motto "Perseverantia et Amicis" (Perseverance and Friends) with Bird (dove) holding olive-branch, this amazing, luxurious "necessaire" comes from family ofacknowledged L...

An English 19th century decorative box with lift up lid opening on original brass hinges to reveal a good sized storage compartment lined with the original hand-crafted sapphire blue...

This exquisite Papier Mâché box, circa 1870s, has a black lacquered finish with mother of pearl inlays, gold leaf hand-painted floral motifs and embellished decoration. The Engli...

A beautiful Tile Mosaic and Brass box with wooden interior - the box is made in Taxco by Salvador Teran, who started the famed Los Castillo shop. The maker of the box is likely Salv...

This incredible item is a delicate decoration in the form of a miniature piano, The piano is constructed with beautiful hand selected walnut decorated ...

A small Sinhalese Porcupine Quill Box with a sliding lid. The panels of porcupine quill panels arranged in a chevron pattern, bordered with ebony and bone inlaid banding. Ceylonese ...

Foldable 19th Century French hand carved marquetry walnut liquor cellar. Overall good condition except the top of the box which was burned quite bed and no restorations have been ma...

Late 18th century, English George III mahogany knife box fitted out for letters / ballots. The interior voided of the old knife compartments. One small remov...

1940s Marquetry Mosaic Wood Box Moorish Islamic Art Granada Spain Khatam Decor. Moorish Inlaid Marquetry Jewelry Box Spain. Dimensions Height: 2.5 in. ...

Signed by maker on lock. Paris, France. Bronze/brass mounted.

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...

"Imperial Manufacture Of Tula, Russia, End Of The 18th Century. Steel Sewing Box" Russian work from the imperial factory of Tula from the end of the 18th century. inlaid with copper ...