Wood Boxes

Embriachi workshop marquetry casket Northern Italy, 15th century Alla certosina inlays (bone, stained bone, pewter and wood) H 28.2 x W 18 x D 14 cm This beautiful casket of rectangular form is richly decorated with the characteristic geometric patterns of the Embriachi style. The intricate geometric patterns are fashioned by juxtaposing lighter and darker pieces of wood, (colored) bone, horn and pewter. The lid and base are framed by a broad band of horn. When ivory became scarce in Europe due to disrupted trade routes, bone was substituted. The attention to Symmetry and balance created an harmonious visual effect Enhancing the overall aesthetic appeal of the casket. The application of geometrical motifs is in Italy known as marquetry ‘alla Certosina’, named after the Certosina Church in Pavia with its famous altarpiece decorated in this way. This is ‘intarsia technique’, a term derived from the Arabic 'tarsi', which means ‘incrustation' recalling ancient mosaics made from various materials. These geometric elements not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of the caskets but also demonstrate the versatility and skill of the artisans in creating multifaceted works of art. ‘Alla Certosina’ became famous through the Northern Italian Embriachi family who achieved a particularly high standard in working in this technique. Venice in particular was known for the production of these luxurious boxes. The caskets, hexagonal or rectangular, surmounted by a lid decorated in several registers constitute the secular, albeit equally renowned component of the workshop’s production, in addition to mirror frames and various everyday objects. The method of fabrication of those objects was based on two concepts that underlay pre-industrial production: standardization and modularity, thanks to a distribution of skills according to the different phases of fabrication. even the realization of the marquetry motifs (in the form of ingots from which portions of the desired size were cut) were therefore entrusted to various specialized craftsmen, as were the assembly phase. Today better known thanks to the extensive research work recently carried out by Michele Tomasi, this workshop owes its name to its founder and owner, the Florentine Baldassare Ubriachi (or degli Embriachi), a merchant and banker established in the Tuscan capital before he settled in Venice in 1395. Together with sculptor Giovanni di Jacopo, who directed the workshop, from the last years of the fourteenth century, Baldassare oversaw a production that was truly original, and still easily recognizable today, comprising monumental altarpieces and various objects, primarily triptychs and caskets. The precise location of the workshop is unknown, except that it originated in Florence and in ca. 1431 there was apparently a workshop in Venice, in the area of S Luca. They employed local workers specializing in 'certosina' (inlay of stained woods, bone and horn), and the workshop produced items carved in bone (usually horse or ox) with wood and bone marquetry. The geometric decoration of Embriachi caskets reflects the artistic complexity and attention to detail that characterized their work. this inlaid casket is a testament to the skill and artistry of the Embriachi family and serves as a stunning example of the decorative arts of the late Middle Ages. Related Literature : E. Berger, Prunk-Kassetten: Europäischen Meisterwerke aus acht Jahrhunderten / Ornamental Caskets...

A stunning coco de mer nut adorned with silver-plated mounts, showcasing two hinged compartments that gracefully open to reveal storage compartments. T...

Danish Vintage Artists Paint Box and Pallet, Early 20th Century Well loved Danish artists traveling wooden box with everything needed to paint on location. This charming box, acqui...

The dimensions for the Chinese hardwood octagonal locking storage box are as follows: Height: 13.5" Width: 9.5" Depth: 9.5"

19th century sikes hydrometer set circa 1890. Good quality presented in a mahogany box, with brass catches. Labelled on the cartouche ' sike's hydrometer' and a 56 stamford street ...

A large wooden hand-carved puzzle box with an eagle motif. This large box is created from wood and is rectangular in shape. This box is unique as it has a hidden compartment to hold ...

This is a very fine art deco style cigar box out of Rosewood and trimmed in stainless steel. art deco. The interior is trimmed in plastic of the era in cream. Circa 1930s, French. No...

An elegant Vintage English fruitwood humidor with fitted interior, mid 20th century in date. The rectangular humidor features a hinged lid having an oval cut out with a glass viewi...

Two Dutch Tobacco Jar Netherlands, 19th century Between 19 x 12,5 A collection of two fine Georgian Dutch Tobacco Jar. Made from Fruit wood those ring turned Jars show a very nice...

Heading : Tunbridge ware glove box Date : c1860 Period : Victoria Origin : Tunbridge Wells, Kent Decoration : Cover with a berlin woolwork floral mosaic within keylines bordered by v...

Magnificent Louis XIV period messenger box, late 17th and early 18th centuries. This pretty box is made of leather-covered wood decorated with copper nails forming diamonds on the to...

Square form with hinged lid with original brass bail handle. Faux bois decoration. The matt black painted wood base with square section legs and H form stretchers.

Regency Sarcophagus Shaped Box with Fan Inlaid Front, a Fitted Interior and Mirrored Lid, c1810. The top has an oval inlaid burl insert. The interior fitted with lift out, divided tr...

Early, original George Nelson teak wood thin-edge Jewelry chest model number 5211 for Herman Miller. Signed inside top drawer with original silver Herman Miller Medallion. The case m...

A 19th Century Moorish Zanzibar Brass & Hardwood Decorative Box on Matching Folding Brass Studded Stand Extra dimensions without stand Height: 21cm Width: 48.5cm Depth: 24.5cm

Heading : Tunbridge ware sewing box Date : c1840 Period : Victoria Origin : Tunbridge Wells, Kent Decoration : Central perspective cube patte...

This is an antique workman's tool chest. An English, teak and brass capped craftsman's trunk, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1880. Delightfully time-worn chest with a ro...

19th century walnut box with band inlay, band inlay and felt interior.

Very rare mid century box with a lid designed and made by Alexandre Noll produced in France 1950s. In good original condition. Dimensions: H: 6,5 cm / 12.55" W: 14 cm / 5.5" D: 9.5...

Mid-century ice-bucket shaped decorative box France 1940s H 22 cm - 21 cm diam. Conditions: very good consistent with age and use.

A handsome English Georgian Mahogany knife box having been later converted into a more usable stationery box. The brass fittings are all original and and the lock to the front comes...

Midcentury beautiful rectangular decorative box attributed to Piero Fornasetti. It has a enameled metal cover and wooden inner compartment. Made in Italy in the 1960s. Perfect ...

Heading : Tunbridge ware jewellery box Date : 2023 Period : Charles III Origin : Essex Decoration : Perspective cube patterned cover with polychrome vandyke triangles to side panels ...

COUNTER CASH 17th Century Flemish in walnut wood with inlays, consisting of two drawers and a drawer. Signs of use. Dim.: 31.5 x 44 x 27 cm good state

English MOP carved casket box with abalone inlay. Velvet lining on 4 bracket feet

This wonderful early nineteenth century tea caddy was made to emulate the larger decanter boxes made in a similar shape and manor during this period. Made from Mahogany, the box is ...

AMBIANIC presents Oak Wood Open Box File Vase Tray Dish 2 x 6 w x 8 long Preowned vintage unrestored condition, please see images provided.

A very fine and exquisitely grained bird’s eye maple box of unusual form: the top curved into three concave channels, each one inlaid with contrast...

We are delighted to offer for sale this very rare 1867 sterling silver hallmarked Asprey 166 Bond Street London Coromandel wood vanity dressing table box A very rare and high quality collectable piece, the box is solid Coromandel wood with brass edges, it’s a lovely dark timber with a similar grain to Rosewood. The suite inside is all sterling silver, fully hallmarked T.W for Thomas Whitehouse, the Queens head for Queen Victoria, the sideways facing Lion for Sterling silver, the Panther head for London and the date letter M for 1867 The box has Braham locks which were of such high quality Gillows of Lancaster an London used them on their finest furniture, at the back of the base section you have a hand engraved plaque which reads Asprey Maker 166 Bond Street London, in the middle of this plaque is a depression switch, if you press it a hidden drawer pops out of the bottom. The listing includes the original key The mirror pulls forward to reveal a hidden document folio...

Danish modern teak tambour door hanging storage cabinet, circa 1970s. This beautiful well crafted box can be hung on a wall or used on a desk...

A South Indian 19th century temple cash box from Kerala with ornate brass hardware and weathered appearance. Step into the rich history and intricate artistry of South India with thi...

George III Satinwood Teapoy - painted with central floral still life flanked by Robert Adam Style Bell Flowers and containing two tea boxes and a mixing bowl

Spanish, 18th century or earlier. An 18th century Spanish bargueno or vargueno traveling desk, used for storing documents, jewels, or sewing box. The six drawer chest is inset with ...

Early Fad Cylinder music box made in Geneva by Nicole Freres. This is a good example of those early music boxes. The mechanisme has a fad cylinder and plays 8 tunes in a 2 per turn...

Introducing the epitome of luxury in game nights – our Walnut Poker Set Box. Crafted from 100% walnut hardwood, this exquisite box boasts Brusso brass hardwa...

Early 19th Century repoussé Indian Lock / Safe Box A wonderful example of an early 19th Century hand crafted Indian safety/lock box. Originating from Northern India around 1820 we b...

Heading : Tunbridge ware jewellery box Date : 2023 Period : Charles III Origin : Essex Decoration : Central painted lady butterfly within keylines and a geometric border. The box con...

Heading : Tunbridge ware work box Date : c1850 Period : Victoria Origin : Tunbridge Wells, Kent . Almost certainly early Edmund Nye or George Burrows. Decoration : Central stylised f...

William IV period sarcophagus form tea caddy, English, circa 1830. Original interior fitted with a pair of dome-top tea canisters and section for sugar bowl (bowl lacking). Original ...

Vintage Miniature French Louis XV Style Italian Commode Jewelry Chest. Item features a distressed finish, 2 drawers, nicely carved cabriole legs, lightly carved floral and scrollwork...

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...

Tessellated malachite box by Maitland Smith

Inspired vintage Anglo Indian hinged box crafted in mahogany and clad in a faux tortoise laminate.

A fine Regency penwork rectangular tea caddy in the Chinoiserie taste with lacquered surface, foliate and figural decoration on all sides, including the interior, with an elephant ha...

A fabulous and most unusual tea caddy dating to the Regency era, around 1820. A rare combination of woods has been used, nutty Cognac coloured Walnut and rich graphic Tulipwood. Th...

A mid century Italian florentine box with the top depicting an antique street scene. Some wear to top but still displays nicely.

19th century Regency jewelry bow with exquisite inlay of various woods, ebony, rosewood, fruit wood, walnut, mahogany. With intricate geometric pattern inlay throughout and start pat...

Stunning HAND Crafted "Bespoke" American Crafts /Jewelry Chest, superior quality and construction,, Bench made, Artisan.. Exotic woods,, Spalted Cu...

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

Rare, vintage hand-crafted wood jewelry box in the shape of a foot with three secret sliding drawers for jewelry storage. Signed on base, Gene Sherer 1987 #39.

A luxurious humidor, hand made in selected ripple sycamore veneer. With solid sycamore edge mouldings, and sides. The outside of the box is finished in a full gloss, hand burnished lacquer, with a slight pink tint to the colour. The sycamore inside is finished in its natural state, without the colour tint. The humidor has a solid aromatic cedar lining. It is fitted with hand polished brass quadrant hinges and hand polished screws. The lid is an almost air tight fit, and the solid cedar lining will absorb and hold moisture to keep the cigars in perfect condition. The sliding cedar tray is designed to hold a humidifier (not supplied) and other accessories, or single cigars. The capacity of this humidor is about 150 cigars depending on size, stored either in boxes, or separately. Archer and Smith...

Box Athenee with internal solid ebony wood, in solid brass and with black resin and gold trims. Box with lid, subtle piece with luxury gift box included.

Totally original Art Deco Walnut jewellery box with streamline shape. Made in the UK in the 1930's , still with it's original material lining. The lid of the box depicts a playful sk...

A special unique piece! Hand-painted, probably from France, late 19th century. Beautiful floral patterns in colorful and golden paint.

Decorated Wooden Box From the Early 20th Century A small wooden box with a lock, adorned with a metal overlay featuring an embossed pattern depicting a genre scene. The object dates...

Very nice and unusual car boxe Made with walnut Circa 1950's

This English Regency-era jewelry box embodies Oriental aesthetics with its sleek sarcophagus shape, tapered body, and angled lid. Adorning the lid are intricate Chinoiserie scenes depicted through penwork on each faceted panel. Opening the box reveals a luxurious red lining within. An exquisite Chinese black lacquer chinoiserie box...

Vintage Danish Rosewood Box, 1960s. Small decorative box with lid in solid rosewood and black Formica. Beautiful rosewood grain and color. Probabl...