Bone Boxes

Whimsical mid century trinket box crafted in composition in a turtle form having a polished stone lid handle and silver plate on brass head and...

Elegant, exotic, and unmistakably refined, shagreen has long captivated those with a discerning eye for luxury. Derived from stingray skin, this richly textured material first appear...

A nice pair of horn of silver snuff or trinket boxes. One is hallmarked with English Sterling hallmarks the other I believe is silverplate. I cannot quite make out the date code but ...

A good antique composition tortoiseshell and gilt metal singing bird box, German circa 1900 Going-barrel movement Setting the birds free... When wound and the sta...

Exuding a lavish flair intertwined with its geometrical design, this refined ivory storage box showcases a precious structure in horn and wood and a rectangular lid in the same lacqu...

A spectacular and extremely high quality French 19th century Louis XIV st. Boulle Boîte à Bijoux, signed "Tahan - Fournisseur du Roi" (Royal cabinetmake...

A fine antique 19th-Century British Colonial porcupine quill and ebony box, made in Ceylon the colonial name for Sri Lanka. This fine hand crafted box has a sliding lid and is decora...

Chinese erotic ivory snuff bottle, most likely realized during the late !ing Dinasty (late 19th Century). Both main faces are finely engraved with Shunga-style erotic scenes, showin...

Large Georgian table or master snuff box of cushion form having tortoiseshell veneered front, back and end caps with green stained mulberry burl bottom and lid, the lid with a wood h...

Beautiful 19th Century Eastern Tortoiseshell and Bone Trinket Box, Lined with Blue Velvet on Paw Feet. Ideal for jewellery or keepsakes or just as a ...

A very wonderful and most attractive Anglo-Indian 19th century black patinated, Bone and Oak box. This unique rectangular box made of veneered blocks of Bone is supported on four squ...

This rare Chinese Art Deco box is made from copper alloy. The top is decorated with hand carved black cinnabar and highlighted with a finely carved bone figure...

Maitland Smith tessellated horn jewelry box.

Of superb quality, this red tortoise shell box with beautifully executed gilded brass mounts was most likely originally made to hold Tea of Sirih. It is in very fine antique conditio...

This stunning and commanding vintage horn and wood monumental Karl Springer style pyramid box makes a statement. The size alone is most unusual. The interior wood color is black and ...

Oval Snuff Box, c. 1860, of multicolored horn. Fine condition. 3" l., 2 1/8" d., 3/4" h. This item includes restricted materials and cannot be sold outside of the contiguous United S...

Chest, box forming a cabinet, Orientalist art, 19th century, Napoleon III period. A 19th century Napoleon III period wood and bone marquetry cabinet box, Orientalist. H: 24cm, W: 31...

A lovely dome shaped bone box from India. The box can be decorative or hold anything from rubber bands to 420. A compliment to cocktail tables, shelves, bedside or on an end table ...

A fine quality and handsome George IV/Regency inlaid rosewood dressing box, with the original sterling silver and glass fitted contents, London, 1824. The box having a lift-up hinged lid, finely inlaid with brass and bone marquetry of floral garlands & swags, the front having twin locking doors with corresponding inlay. Both the top, base and door panels have 'Dutch Ripple' molding and at each corner a hand-turned 'Barley Twist' column, both to the front and rear. The interior of the box also having inlaid satinwood stringing and three fitted compartments each with an etched crystal container...

A richly decorated early 19th century Chinese export sewing or work box in black lacquer, detailed throughout with intricate gilt landscapes and figures. The interior retains a full ...

Handd dyed bone blue keepsake box with 3 brass inlay stripes.

Fine 18th century ebony and bone inlaid table cabinet with geometric and line inlay on eight drawers with turned bone knobs and standing on turned e...

Mexican cabinet. Made of tortoiseshell, pen-engraved and wood. Possible Oaxaca or Puebla, 17th century.

Art Deco olive green shagreen covered box with bone edged top raised on turned ball feet and having the bottom covered in snake or lizard skin.

English Georgian Tortoise shell hinged sewing box with a gadrooned molded edge lid, fitted tufted interior, and resting on the original silver plate winged paw feet. Early 19th Century

Impressive antique Anglo Indian box crafted in mahogany, clad in tortoise shell, and ambitiously decorated with bone. The inside has a mirror and red felt lining.

Hispano-Moresque Mudéjar Bone-Inlaid Walnut Chest
 Spain, 16th–17th century 
Walnut, bone inlay, iron fittings
 44.5 × 30.5 × 18 cm This rectangular walnut chest, richly ornamented ...

One absolutely gorgeous decorative box by Enrique Garcel 1980s. In two tone tessellated horn and brass bands surrounding it. The brass hinges make this box extremely sturdy with good...

Vintage lidded box crafted in steer horn elements with metal spacers and having a carved penshell handle and feet.

Art Deco shagreen covered cedar box with bone edges, the snug fitting lid attached at the back with a single long stop hinge to prevent the lid falling back when open. The leather co...

Antique French Napoleon III box with inlaid bone decor, polished black color surface, natural silk textile inside. Includes key. After the renovation - very good condition. NOTE: Bu...

A very well crafted tessellated horn and wood veneer trinket box in the style of R & Y Augousti, circa 1990s. The piece is in very good condition and measures 4.75" W x 4.75" D x 3.2...

A charming mahogany tobacco box in an architecturally intriguing form. The top of the lid is adorned with a small knob of bone. Great quality and craftsmanship. Empire. Denmark, ...

Vizagapatam box, India, 19th century. This highly decorative and unusual Anglo-Indian table box features rustic workmanship that adds to the character and charm of this unique Sout...

Exceptionally detailed 19th century carved bone gunpowder flask Italian, 19th Century Height 36cm, diameter 11cm This unconventional gunpowder flask, created in Italy in the 19th ce...

Green tortoiseshell tea caddy from England. With two interior covers raised on four silver ball feet. Circa 1870.

Tortoise cigarette and match box with sterling mounts. Priced per box. We also have numerous other tortoise boxes and accessories. Feel free to call or email with questions.

Intricately Carved Bone Containers with Lid – Set of 2 – Antique Handcrafted Decorative Storage Boxes Discover this unique set of 2 intricate carved bone containers with lid, perfec...

The case with geometric pattern design. Two drawers with etched bone panels and carved drawer moldings. Bun feet. With key.

Anglo Indian tortoiseshell and ivory trinket box dating to the turn of the century. This finely crafted piece features beautiful tortoiseshell accented with ivory, showcasing the hig...

This striking 1970s storage box showcases a dynamic battle scene between a lion and an elephant, expertly rendered in early bone. Designed in the Art Deco style, the box features fin...

A wonderful and most charming Anglo-Indian 19th century black patinated, Bone and Oak box. This lovely rectangular box is supported on four squared feet in each corner. The front sid...

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...

This wonderful example of a 19th century tortoise shell sewing box on stand opens to original fabric lined interior of compartments with a central ...

Set of 2 Anglo Indian boxes. Both early 20th century with bone and faux tortoise decorations. In overall good condition. The bone of the back from the larger box is absent and some s...

Enchanting antique large Turkish box crafted with bone, cut and decorated in floral compositions, hammered metalwork and highlighted with semi precious stones. The interior has multi...

Discover the allure of these Vintage Boho Tessellated Horn Trinket Boxes, a captivating pair that brings natural elegance and artisanal charm to your decor. Expertly crafted from tes...

A fine antique pictorial enamel and underbelly-cut tortoiseshell singing bird box, Circa 1910, Going-barrel movement, Soft streaks of light throughout this fabulous case... When wound and start/stop slide moved to the right, the bird emerges through the pierced and tooled gilt grille, moving bone beak, wings and body from side-to-side to continuous synchronized birdsong. With the bird displaying...

English octagonal hinged black lacquered tea caddy with gilt stenciled figural pagoda, decorative foliage motif, original hand chased lidded in...

Antique Chinese bone and copper mounted box. Chinese, 19th century. Measures: height 13 cm, width 26 cm, depth 14.5 cm. This fine Chinese box...

Dimensions: 12.25W x 8.25D x 7.75H, In great condition.  

Made of rosewood, this antique tea caddy is distinguished by its porcupine quill detailing. Featuring elements of ebony and ivory dots, the hinge lidded box...

3 nice Victorian trinket or snuff boxes. One is oval and made of horn with Silver inlay. The next is a long oval out of some exotic horn and has a hinge on top, and a portion lifts o...

A strikingly beautiful French dore bronze box is all engraved with an ivory picture of an aristocrat, LeBron. The box is heavily chased with a velvet i...

Exuding the quiet elegance of the Georgian era, this exquisite antique box is a miniature treasure of 19th-century craftsmanship. The piece is masterfully crafted from a rich, beauti...

PRESENTING A LOVELY 19th century Anglo-Indian Carved Teak Wood and Sadeli Mosaic Box, featuring a carving of a Hunt Scene. Made circa 1870 in Bombay, India during the Rule of the Br...

Circa 1750. Tortoiseshell and mother of pearl box with sliding top from Mexico 18th century. Beautiful designs all over. As is condition.

A Victorian silver plate and tortoiseshell basket. And tortoiseshell glove box. The box measures 1.5 inches H x 10.5 inches W x 2 inches D.

Elegant and finely crafted rosewood and ivory inlay traveller's writing desk from the late Mughal period of British India (circa 1825), on low bun feet. In excellent condition, with ...

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...