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Material: Metal
A Rare Pair of Luxury Chinoiserie Tea Cannister Shop Fittings
Located in Greenwich, CT
A rare pair of large-scale tea cannisters with wooden lids over rounded tin bodies each elaborately decorated with bucolic scenes of a pair of figures in Chinese dress in a garden, w...
Category
1860s English Chinoiserie Antique Metal Boxes
Materials
Tin
19th Century Toleware Grocer’s Shop Tea Tin
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
19th century toleware grocer’s shop tea tin,
A beautiful decorative Grocers Tea Canister, it would have been filled with Tea for sale, it has a very attractive style. The lid is...
Category
Late 19th Century Arts and Crafts Antique Metal Boxes
Materials
Tin
Antique 1890s Burmese Silver Box
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Burmese silver box; an addition to our diverse Asian silverware collection.
This exceptional antique Bu...
Category
1890s Burmese Antique Metal Boxes
Materials
Silver
Cologne Cathedral Jewelry Trinket Box Metal, Antique German Souvenir, 1930s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Gorgeous vintage metal jewelry box. A beautiful decorative item in metal inside covered with cloth. Made in Germany, circa 1930s. Nice addi...
Category
1930s German Vintage Metal Boxes
Materials
Metal
Fine Antique Swiss 18kt Gold Engine-Turned & Chased Rectangular Box
Located in Braintree, GB
Fine Antique Swiss 18kt Gold Engine-Turned & Chased Rectangular Box — French Import Marks
An impressive antique 18kt gold rectangular box featuring exceptional engine-turned guilloc...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Metal Boxes
Materials
Gold
Antique Early 20th Century Sterling Silver Walnut Cigar Humidor Circa 1900
Located in London, GB
An early 20th century walnut cigar Humidor, circa 1900 with sterling silver corners and nameplate.
This piece has a campaign feel the corners are perfectly moulded.
The walls of the ...
Category
Early 1900s English Antique Metal Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver
Antique English Georgian Style Inlaid Mahogany Bombe Shaped Tea Caddy
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique Georgian style mahogany tea caddy.
Of bombé form with fruit wood inlay, gilt brass mounts & handle, and bracket feet.
Simply a wonderful, rare form!
Date:
L...
Category
Early 20th Century English Georgian Metal Boxes
Materials
Brass
Stunning Blue Murano Glass Ormolu Mounted Round Table Box
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Stunning Blue Murano Glass Ormolu Mounted Round Table Box
Italy, mid-20th century
This beautiful Blue Murano Glass Ormolu Mounted Round Table Box, made in Italy during the mid-20t...
Category
20th Century Italian Neoclassical Metal Boxes
Materials
Ormolu
$760 Sale Price
20% Off
European Collection of 7 Antique 19th Century Snuff Boxes
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A curated collection of seven small antique boxes in variation of different metals.
The collection includes:
- One pewter box illustrating a doubl...
Category
Late 19th Century European Victorian Antique Metal Boxes
Materials
Metal, Silver Plate, Pewter
Victorian Military Campaign Burr Walnut Brass Bound Writing Slope With Key
Located in Reading, Berkshire
19th Century Victorian Military Campaign Burr Walnut Brass Bound Writing Slope With A Tooled Black Leather Scriver
Slope will include
A Single Glass Inkwell
A vintage pen
S moder...
Category
19th Century British Campaign Antique Metal Boxes
Materials
Brass
Emerald Green Goat Skin Covered Wooden Cylinder Box in the Style of Aldo Tura
By Aldo Tura
Located in Winnetka, IL
This is a beautiful emerald green goat skin cylinder box with a brass pineapple finial on lid and wooden interior in the style of Aldo Tura.
Category
1950s European Vintage Metal Boxes
Materials
Brass
Pair of Viennese Enameled Silver and Rock Crystal Covered Bird Boxes, circa 1875
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Renaissance Style Viennese Enameled Silver and Rock Crystal Covered Bird Boxes, circa 1875
Category
1870s Antique Metal Boxes
Materials
Rock Crystal, Silver, Enamel
Cigarette Case Silver 925 Absolute Striped Salimbeni
By Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Cigarette case silver 925 , striped and oval section in 925/1000 sterling silver. Opening button and spring opening . Early 20th century Art Deco style.
...
Category
1970s Italian Modern Vintage Metal Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver
Crocodile Cigar Box with Alligator Skin and Wartog Teeth and Cedar Wood
Located in Paris, FR
Cigar box crocodile with cedar wood structure,
covered with alligator skin, details in bronze and
crystal. With two Wartog teeth. With thermometer
to keep your best cigars. Exce...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Metal Boxes
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
$13,391 Sale Price
20% Off
Impressive Unique Piece Art Glass and Brass Box with Lid by Jack Ink
Located in Bochum, NRW
Amazing, large glass lidded box, by Jack Ink.
Sinuous form with shallow domed lid, ribbed wall.
Colorless glass, with inclusions and fusings. Shallow estuarine and cast brass.
Unique...
Category
1980s Austrian Modern Vintage Metal Boxes
Materials
Brass
Tiffany Studios New York Zodiac Pattern Bronze Doré Box
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique Arts & Crafts or Art Deco period gilt bronze "Zodiac" pattern desk box, decorative box, or jewelry box
By Tiffany Studios (signed to the underside)
New York, USA...
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Metal Boxes
Materials
Bronze
Mid 18th century hand painted traditional Swedish pine chest
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 18th century hand painted traditional Swedish chest/box circa 1750.
Stunning traditional Swedish box hand painted in the original paintwork. Decorated on all sides with swags ...
Category
Mid-18th Century Swedish Folk Art Antique Metal Boxes
Materials
Iron
Armored Jewel Safe Polished Carbon Fiber Front and 3 Watch Winders
By Agresti
Located in New York, NY
Armored jewelry safe covered in polished carbon front. Drawers in white leather, , inside is lined for jewelry and watches with pull out necklace holder...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Metal Boxes
Materials
Steel
19th Century Baccarat Cut Crystal Box or Casket with Gilt Bronze Mounts
By Baccarat
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
19th Century Baccarat Cut Crystal Box or Casket with Gilt Bronze Mounts. Beautiful cut crystal box in a faceted design. Box is mounted in a gi...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Metal Boxes
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Mid Century Cedanese Red Murano Glass Box with Gilt Brass Fittings
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Exceptional Mid Century Cedanese Red Murano Glass Box with Gilt Brass Fittings.
Category
Mid-20th Century Metal Boxes
Materials
Metal
1960’s Trafitol Vulcanised Card Storage Boxes – Large Quantity Available
Located in Hook, Hampshire
1960's Trafitol Vulcanised Card Storage Boxes - Large Quantity Available. In 1853 the textile industrial revolution arrived in Loos, Nord France with the formation of the Esquermes f...
Category
1960s Vintage Metal Boxes
Materials
Other
Solid Tiger Oak Card Catalog Box with Brass Handle Dovetail Art Deco
Located in San Diego, CA
A handsome antique solid tiger oak catalog drawer, This solid oak cabinet is constructed with gorgeous dovetail joints and a solid brass handle.
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Metal Boxes
Materials
Brass
$380 Sale Price
20% Off
Automaton singing bird by Bontems
By Bontems
Located in Zonhoven, BE
Unique flower pot with singing bird automaton made by Bontems in the last quarter of the 19th century.
Bontems was a manufacturer of bird automatons in Paris. He produced decent num...
Category
Late 19th Century French Late Victorian Antique Metal Boxes
Materials
Metal, Gold Plate, Other
Large Japonisme Moser-Type Bronze Mounted & Enameled Blue Glass Casket Box
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A large and very fine 19th century enameled glass casket or glove box.
Typical of the enamel treatments by Ludwig Moser and reminiscent of Baccarat's Japonisme works.
Likely Bohemian, the blue glass...
Category
Late 19th Century Czech Japonisme Antique Metal Boxes
Materials
Enamel
Antique Moroccan Tea Caddy in Brass, 1900s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Late 19th or early 20th century Teacaddy in Hand engraved and embossed brass. Great rich patina that along with its details give it a certain charm. It has a hinged lid that works ju...
Category
Early 1900s Moroccan Late Victorian Antique Metal Boxes
Materials
Brass
$354 Sale Price
25% Off
Faberge Style Guilloche Enamel Sterling Silver Decorative Box/Cigarettes Case
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is Faberge style rectangular patinated 925 silver metal decorative box/cigarette case. It depicts a heavy hinged box very well ornamented. The top of the lid is covered by an octagonal shaped emerald green translucent guilloche enamel in the center. Over it, the Russian Double Headed Eagle...
Category
20th Century Unknown Belle Époque Metal Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver
Midcentury Decorative Box in Lucite and Rattan Christian Dior Style, Italy 1970s
Located in Rome, IT
Midcentury amazing little rectangular decorative box in lucite, rattan and brass in the style of Christian Dior Home.
Made in Italy in the 1970s.
Perfect desk object or gift idea.
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Metal Boxes
Materials
Metal, Brass
Chinese Lao Tian Li Cloisonne Cylindrical Box, Late Qing Dynasty, China
Located in Austin, TX
A delightful antique Chinese cloisonné cylindrical box and cover by Lao Tian Li, late Qing Dynasty, circa 1900, China.
The box of cylindrical form and w...
Category
Early 1900s Chinese Qing Antique Metal Boxes
Materials
Brass, Copper, Enamel
Powder Case Art Deco style designed for Cartier USA Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Powder case for handbag in 925/1000 sterling silver with black and red fired enamel. Opening with spring button. Ground mirror and retina inside. Measure cm. 7.3 x 7.3 x 1.5. Weight gr.250. Created in the Art Deco style for Cartier USA in the 1980s, inspired by designs by Louis Cartier from the early 1900s. Manufactured in Florence in the Salimbeni company headquarters 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 Metal Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Silver Plated Rectangular Dolphin Footed Box with Lid
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
We see this charming 2 piece box for used as a trinket box for jewelry or keepsakes. Could also function standing alone on a coffee table or nightstand.
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Metal Boxes
Materials
Metal, Silver Plate
Antique Victorian quality burr walnut brass bounded writing box
Located in Ipswich, GB
Antique Victorian quality burr walnut brass bounded writing box having a quality antique Victorian burr walnut brass bounded writing box openin...
Category
Early 19th Century Victorian Antique Metal Boxes
Materials
Brass
Maitland Smith Extra Large Tessellated Travertine and Brass Box
Located in New York, NY
Wonderful Extra large Tessellated Travertine and Marble box by Maitland Smith.
The hinged Travertine box is complemented by a burgundy border with brass inlays,
The box sits on br...
Category
1980s Philippine Mid-Century Modern Vintage Metal Boxes
Materials
Travertine, Marble, Brass
Pierced Islamic Copper Tinned Chest
Located in Pasadena, TX
This is a copper tinned chest from the Middle East. It has a heavy metal handle and is pierced. The detailing is quite nice as well as the aged patina.
A very nice decorative item.
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Islamic Metal Boxes
Materials
Copper
Antique Chinese Lacquered Flip-Up Travel Shaving Jewellery Box Vanity Mirror
Located in Wembley, GB
Antique Chinese Lacquered Flip-Up Travel Shaving Jewelry Box Vanity Mirror
Vintage Wooden Jewellery Box & Mirror Decorative Box & Lid Hand P...
Category
1960s Chinese Hollywood Regency Vintage Metal Boxes
Materials
Metal
$320 Sale Price
20% Off
Georgian Kingwood Writing Box by David Edwards with Secret Compartment
Located in Northampton, GB
Hidden Secret Compartment
From our Writing Box collection, we are pleased to offer this Georgian Kingwood Writing Box attributed to David Edwards. The Writing Box constructed from M...
Category
Early 19th Century English Georgian Antique Metal Boxes
Materials
Brass
Victorian sterling silver tea caddy made in London in 1891
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1891 by John Henry Rawlings, this very handsome, Victorian, Antique Sterling Silver Tea Caddy, is plain in design, octagonal in shape and with reed borders. T...
Category
1890s English Victorian Antique Metal Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver
Silver Box with a Straw Marquetry Lid by Ginger Brown
By Ginger Brown
Located in Bourguebus, FR
This lovely box is made of brushed stainless steel with a lid covered of straw marquetry.
The radial design of the straw reminds the great Art deco period which contrasts perfectly ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Metal Boxes
Materials
Stainless Steel
Iron strong box or safe. 19th century
Located in Madrid, ES
Safe box. Iron. XIX century.
Rectangular safe made of iron, with a rectangular base, two handles on the sides and classicist-influenced molding decorations on the fronts and top. It...
Category
19th Century European Neoclassical Revival Antique Metal Boxes
Materials
Other, Iron
Art Deco Chrome and Crystal Decorative Cookie Box, Candie Jar, France circa 1930
Located in Atlanta, GA
French silversmith Francois Frionnet, Paris, designed and crafted this stunning Art Deco chrome and crystal decorative cookie box circa 1930. The modernist and minimalist design feat...
Category
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Metal Boxes
Materials
Crystal, Chrome
French Napoleon III Boulle Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, GB
Single Tea Caddy Compartment
From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to bring to market this Antique French Boulle Tea Caddy. The Tea Caddy o...
Category
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Metal Boxes
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Memphis Post-Modern Table Top Jewelry Chest in the Style of Ettore Sottsass
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous hand-made Memphis post-modern table top jewelry chest with five drawers in the style of Ettore Sottsass, circa 1980s. The box is in very good vintage condition and measures ...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Metal Boxes
Materials
Brass, Metal
Jacques Lautertach small bronze box. French c.1970’s
Located in London, GB
Small bronze brutalist box by Jacques Lautertach. French c.1970’s
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Metal Boxes
Materials
Bronze
$419 Sale Price
47% Off
French Art Nouveau Metal Pewter Trinket Jewelry Vanity Tray
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
This small French tray is decorated in the typical styles of this Art Nouveau period featuring a nude woman posing. The condition of the tray is sturdy and has an amazing warm and ch...
Category
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Metal Boxes
Materials
Metal
Vintage Alemagna Milano Tin Trunk, 1950s - A Rare Italian Collectible
Located in Manzano, IT
Vintage Alemagna Milano Tin Trunk, 1950s - A Rare Italian Collectible
Step back into the elegance of mid-century Italy with this vintage Alemagna Milano tin trunk from the 1950s. Or...
Category
1950s Vintage Metal Boxes
Materials
Metal
$344 Sale Price
40% Off
ALFRED DUNHILL Paris 1928 Louis Kuppenheim Enameled Japonisme Box 935 Sterling
Located in Miami, FL
An enameled box by Louis Kuppenheim for Alfred Dunhill.
This is an extraordinary and extremely rare desk box with double enameling. The box have been created in the city of Pforzhei...
Category
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Metal Boxes
Materials
Gold, Silver, Enamel
Wonderful French Bronze Diamond Cut Crystal Baccarat Cylindrical Box Casket
By Baccarat
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful French Bronze & Diamond Cut Crystal Baccarat Style Cylindrical Form Box / Casket
Category
20th Century French Belle Époque Metal Boxes
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Salvador Teran Los Castillo Serpent Box
By Los Castillo
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Salvador Teran for Los Castillo brass decorative box featuring a serpent on a green background. Inset with stone and resin and the interior of the box is lined with wood. Stamped on ...
Category
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Metal Boxes
Materials
Multi-gemstone, Brass
Bath England Bathroom Boxes Set #1
By Creart
Located in Milan, IT
A glorious showcase of craftsmanship, this magnificent bathroom set is comprised of a small basket and box entirely handmade of brass preciously finished with 24k galvanized gold. Br...
Category
2010s Italian Metal Boxes
Materials
Gold, Brass
Elegant Art Deco Pewter box with lid and mirror from GAB, Sweden in 1935
Located in Knivsta, SE
Elegant Art Deco Pewter box with lid and mirror inside from GAB Guldsmedsaktiebolaget, Sweden in 1935 (I8). Simple and elegant design in pewter with blackened birch handle.
Wear con...
Category
1930s Swedish Art Deco Vintage Metal Boxes
Materials
Pewter
19th Century Dutch Ebony Box With Silver Mounts and Hinges
Located in Stamford, CT
Dutch Colonial ebony box with silver mounts, large silver hinges and the original steel lock and key. This rare box was likely made in the Dutch East India possession of Sri Lanka, o...
Category
Early 19th Century Sri Lankan Dutch Colonial Antique Metal Boxes
Materials
Silver, Steel
Antique Asian Tibetan Box Brass Filigree with Turquoise & Coral Prayer Wish Box
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Antique Chinese Tibetan Brass Filigree with Turquoise and Coral beads round Box
Handcrafted round Tibetan, Nepalese decorative brass trinket wish box.
Antique Asian Tibetan hand made box inlaid with polished turquoise and coral glass inlay pieces.
Great fine brass filigree design on the top lid and sides.
Has a wonderful patina.
In good shape with age appropriate wear this box has retained its original patina finish, has no missing pieces.
Opens and closes as it should. A beautiful Asian pill box for a vanity or desk.
Box measures: 2" height X 4" diameter.
Tibetan Buddhist prayer boxes...
Category
Mid-20th Century Nepalese Tibetan Metal Boxes
Materials
Coral, Multi-gemstone, Brass
Brass Box Goliath Scarab with Shagreen Lid by Ginger Brown
By Ginger Brown
Located in Bourguebus, FR
The Goliath Scarab box is a best seller at Ginger Brown
This piece is made in lost wax cast brass with a bronze patina. The brass lid is covered with shagreen.
That box has been realized from a real scarab. The famous Megasoma actaeon from the family of the rhinoceros beetle...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Arts and Crafts Metal Boxes
Materials
Brass
Evening Bag with fire enamelled stripes in Art Deco style Salimbeni.
Located in Firenze, FI
Oval evening bag in 925/1000 sterling silver with fire enamelled stripes in Art Deco style. Measurement cm. 5.5 x 10 x 14.8, interior with ground mirror. Weight gr. 748. Created in 1...
Category
1970s Italian Art Deco Vintage Metal Boxes
Materials
Gold, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Art Nouveau Moser Glass Dresser Box, Early 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
An elegant and rare Art Nouveau Glass Dresser Box by Moser, Austria.
Realized in the early years of 1900, with gold inlays.
Very good condition.
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Metal Boxes
Materials
Gold
Sèvres Porcelain Box, Gilt Brass Mounting, 19th Century, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Sèvres porcelain box, gilt brass mounting, 19th century, Napoleon III period.
A Napoleon III period box, 19th century, Sèvres porcelain and gilt brass mount.
H: 14cm, W: 26cm, D: 16cm
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Metal Boxes
Materials
Brass
Owl Box in Cream Shagreen and Bronze-Patina Brass by R&Y Augousti
Located in New York, NY
The Paris based label has distinguished themselves since their launch, with their iconic use of shagreen mixed with brass and other exotic materials. All furniture is handcrafted by ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Metal Boxes
Materials
Brass
Argentor Of Vienna Mid-Century Polka Dot Brass Storage Box, Austria, 1950s
Located in Vienna, AT
A truly charming and decorative Mid-century storage/jewelry box or cigarette dispenser, dated circa 1950s. Manufactured by Argentor of Vienna, Austria. The box is made of blackened b...
Category
Mid-20th Century Metal Boxes
Materials
Brass
Table Box Magnificent Arabian Horse Fired Enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Shaped rectangular table box in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with fine hand-etched fire-enameled engraving painted like lapis lazuli stone and...
Category
1970s Italian Islamic Vintage Metal Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
19C Anglo Indian Bombay MOP Sadeli Mosaic Trinket Box
Located in Dallas, TX
PRESENTING a LOVELY 19C Anglo Indian Bombay MOP (Mother of Pearl) Sadeli Mosaic Trinket Box from circa 1875-85.
Gorgeously detailed and hand-crafted ‘sadeli mosaic’ inlay, from the Bombay Area, with deep greens with silver, pewter, mother of pearl, bone and ebony in geometric patterns.
The box case, is made of sandalwood but completely covered in MOP, bone, faux ivory, ebony and mosaic inlay.
Edged with faux ivory and banded with a different pattern of sadeli mosaic.
Some minor damage to the top (repair is obvious in pics) and ivorine replacements to some edging, but it still a BEAUTIFUL BOX and of real QUALITY!
The mosaic work is FABULOUS!
Box opens to reveal its original blue velvet lining.
It sits on 4 (recently added) silvered button feet.
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...
Category
Late 19th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Antique Metal Boxes
Materials
Silver
19th C. Italian Grand Tour Micro-Mosaic "Doves of Pliny" Box After Antiquity
By Vatican Mosaic Studio
Located in Atlanta, GA
Italian, likely Circa 1880.
This beautiful box has an exceptional Grand Tour Micro-mosaic plaque depicting the Capitoline Doves or Doves of Pliny after the Roman antiquity. Also by ...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Grand Tour Antique Metal Boxes
Materials
Slate, Bronze
$1,196 Sale Price
20% Off
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