19th Century Boxes

A wonderful tea vessel made out of cherry wood in Vienna in about 1830-1850. Beautifully decorated by a silver plated application of a house and a landscape (some brassing).

Fashioned with an exuberance. Finely fashioned with superbly detailed repouse' figures all around. An excellent example

This 19th century painters box has centuries of patina. Layers and layers of paintresidues, scratches and handling has transformed this utilitary item to ...

19th century French lidded box with boulle-style inlay on lid (sawwork + mirrors). Dimensions: 7 x 31 x 23 cm. In good condition.  

For sale is this 19th Century Victorian antique rosewood inlaid marquetry tea caddy sarcophagus-form box, in good condition with marquetry to the top and front with brass star carryi...

Charming Swedish box in original painted with flower decoration, circa 1800.

Swedish folk art box made by hand in solid Swedish pine. The box is in original condition with the untouched original paint. Made in northern Sweden around the 1860s. It has most lik...

Late 19th century Italian box with pietra dura panelled top. The box of ebony & mahogany (small loss to underside of bottom). Fine pietra dura floral spray. Three faint hairlines in ...

A wonderful antique German humidor. Mostly copper with some metal and a wood interior. The interior is about 3" deep. there isn't a key. Circa 1890s.

A 19th century French Provençal fariniere, or decorative box made of walnut with fine hand-carved decoration of a large flower urn. Waxed patina. This...

Charming 19th century Swedish provincial spice box in its original condition with two sliding doors and one drawer. The interior contains eight compartments intended for different dr...

A lovely antique English mahogany campaign style travel desk / writing slope box with beautifully aged warm rich patina. circa 1825 Commonly used by military officers in the field, ...

Superb quality with elaborate brass applied accents. It is fashioned with burl walnut veneers and the interior is fitted slots for mail.

An Exceptionally Fine French Serpentine and brass marquetry inlaid Cave a Liqueur or Tantalus Box with mother of pearl. French circa 1870 Primarily veneered in fine thuya wood of...

Antique black lacquer container with painted floral motifs used to store hats and personal belongings.

Antique Philippine Brass and Copper Betel Nut Box. The top lifts to reveal 2 hinged compartments that held the betel leaf and areca nut. Inlaid in c...

English Winsor and Newton mahogany with ebony stringing paint box with drawer. This paint box retains its original Winsor and Newton Label in the lid as well as in the bottom of the ...

A superb quality Victorian writing box / slope in exotic and dramatic Coromandel wood mounted with the most exquisite gilded bronze mounts, all intricately engraved with top-notch sc...

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

Italian alp folk art box

An Anglo Indian Rosewood box circa late 19th century. The gilt design of florals and scrolls on the top carriers through to all four sides so...

An antique decorative lidded box with a bronze dog. The base made of wood, with onyx paneled against it, which is framed with floral ornate copper rims. The...

19th Century Treen Measure and Thread Dispenser in Sycamore Made in the 19th century, skilfully turned from Sycamore, these superb pieces would be used by the pharmacist and the se...

Highly stylized sterling silver vinaigrette, pill or snuff box by famed English silversmith William Simpson circa 1826 featuring a hand hammered raised floral design along the edges ...

1800s French inlaid diminutive commode. It is a salesman sample converted into a jewelry box with the two deep compartments and back lined in velvet. The interior could have been mad...

An Exceptional and Highly Important Micromosaic Gold Mounted Jasper Snuff Box, most probably by Gioacchino Barberi with the box likely by Moulinié, ...

This is a fine and well fitted ebonised Gonçalo Alves Palais Royal travel necessaire / vanity chest, by Maison Smal L. Dujat - Palais Royal 7 (Paris), circa 1850 in date. This sup...

PRESENTING A RARE AND DESIRABLE 19C Anglo Indian Highly Carved Padouk and Mosaic Folio Cover. This is a VERY RARE piece of Anglo-Indian and British Victorian Colonial history! ...

This is an antique campaign cellarette. An English, mahogany and brass colonial storage box, dating to the mid Victorian period, circa 1850. Impressive proportion and of a quality f...

This is a elegant Victorian mahogany table top jewellery collectors cabinet, circa 1840 in date. The cabinet is freestanding, finished all...

A Primitive Snuff Box dated 1847 and signed T.O. from Norway, Scandinaiva. Wear due to age and use showing wonderful patina. Ø: 5 cm H: 9 cm

A Set of 2 Treen Pomanders in Yew Wood 2 small round early 19th century yew wood lady's pomanders, these unscrew in the centre with scent holes to both sides. one of these has what ...

19th C. Red Embossed Leather Bound ( Faux / Dummy) Book Box 'Hunt Buttons' England, circa 1890s This 19th-century red embossed leather bound book box, titled 'Hunt Buttons,' is a r...

A 19th Century French Napoleon III marquetry sewing box. Made of mahogany with thuya wood top inlaid with brass and mother of pearl. Brass trim frames the lid and the base. The inter...

Beautiful Japanese box in red lacquered wood. The lid is decorated with flowering magnolia branches and signed by the artist. The inside of the box is covered with a paint loaded wit...

This is an antique campaign correspondence box. An Anglo-Indian, teak and bone inlaid colonial writing case with fitted interior, dating to the late...

Stunning Black Forest Brienz wood carved wall cabinet. Made in Germany in the 1880s or older. Some color spots, also some old repairs to the wood and a new...

Antique Victorian quality rosewood jewellery box having a quality rosewood lift up lid opening to reveal a fitted blue velvet interior and a storage compartment with beautiful origin...

Nice wooden and mother-of-pearl box from the 1900s. The mother-of-pearl inlays form plant motifs (flowers and foliage), incised to give volume to the different parts. It closes with ...

19th century English Regency traveling lap writing desk with original brass corner mounts and hardware, including lock and key. Outstanding sti...

PRESENTING A VERY NICE 19C Anglo Indian Highly Carved Padouk and Sandalwood Sarcophagus Sewing Box. Made in Bombay, India circa 1890-1900. The box case/body is made of sandalwo...

PRESENTING A LOVELY 19C Anglo Indian Vizagapatam Bone and Shell Domed Stationery Box – ‘Alice’s Box’. Made in Vizagapatam, India, circa 1860-80. We call this one: “Alice’s Box”! It has lived ‘a hard, well used and traveled life’, as is evident from the number of losses and repairs, as is obvious from the photos, especially to the faux ivory panels and bands to the top. The bonus to the loss of the frieze panels to the dome has a ‘bonus’, however, as their loss has revealed the most GORGEOUS faux blonde tortoiseshell underneath! The box is dome/casket shaped. The top has 3 bands, with the center one being the original. The 2 side bands are later ivorine. The faux ivory and hand-painted medallions on the domed lid, have been saved and they depict Hindu Gods, Vishnu and Shiva. The front and side panels are still in pretty good shape and are decorated with lac ink (indelible ink made from crushed beetles) depicting lovely floral designs. The domed lid open to reveal a series of open compartments for envelopes, writing paper etc. and one lidded panel for stamps. Inside the box are 2 paper labels: one probably being the original item ticket and the other with: ” Alice’s address is 272 Ashworth Ave, Toronto 4, Ontario”. Probably, the original owner? Hence, we call it ‘Alice’s Box’. What a journey/life this box has had! Made in India, made its way to Canada, back to Ireland and then to Texas! This is why, WE LOVE ANTIQUES...

Antique french silver plate over copper jewelry casket with very high relief horse racing equine motif all around, circa 1890's. Interior is tufted purple silk, had feet at one time,...

PERFUME BOX WITH LID French Napoleon III 19th Century in ebonised wood, tortoiseshell and gilded metal. Interior with three golden glass bottles. Defects of age Dim.: (box) 11 x 1...

A set of 3 antique Korean paper mache sewing boxes from the Choson period.

Late 19th century English Oak Octagonal Humidor With Silver Mounts. Complex octagonal form with moldings and silvered brass fittings. The base supported by small bun feet, two ring h...

English grain painted box, this nearly square box is painted on all sides to simulate quarter sawn oak. It retains the original steel carrying handles on...

With Twin Caddies & Hand Cut Glass Sugar Bowl From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to offer this rare Regency Cuban Mahogany Tea Chest by Robert Wright. The Tea Chest of ...

French 19th Century Stained Pine Storage Bin

We have a unique Japanese aesthetic sense. And only we can introduce unique items through our purchasing channels in Japan and the experience we have gained so far, in such a way th...

An Exceptionally fine Quality English Well Figured Solid Burr Walnut Ladies or Gents Travelling Writing Slope of outstanding quality and quite large proportions. Third quarter of the...

Rajasthani Mughal Decorative Copper Lidded Betel Spice Pandan Caddy Box. Handcrafted decorative North India round metal Asian copper Mughal Raj, Indian lidded , spice, pandan betel box with latch and a top handle. Of dome form with lotus-shaped finial, with spiralling bosse designs, Delicately and intricately hand-chased and hammered with geometric Anglo-Indian designs. Consuming betel leaves with several ingredients such as wet lime paste, katechu, areca nut, cloves and even tobacco leaves has been popular in India from the fourth century AD. The box was probably used to store the betel leaf used in the preparation of paan. Lime paste is mixed with grated areca nut and flavourings and the resulting mixture is rolled in the betel leaf to form a small parcel which can then be chewed. As well as being an integral part of Indian hospitality paan is believed to possess medicinal properties and was also taken as an aphrodisiac. The present box, which was elaborately designed for this purpose, would have been taken out ceremoniously on special occasions. Exquisite conversation museum quality piece with a very nice antique patina. Fine intricate artwork with conical form lid with Moorish pierced designs. Islamic Mughal Indo Persian...

Chinese Huanghuali wood box decorated with bronze mountings and motifs of bats, fish and moths. The top features a classic Chinese medallion mounted to the centre of the lid. In un...

PRESENTING A GORGEOUS 19C Anglo Indian Highly Carved Padouk and Sandalwood Sadeli Mosaic Sarcophagus Sewing Box. Made in Bombay, India circa 1860-80. Box made of sandalwood with highly carved padouk wood reliefs and panels on all sides. Edged with bone and ebony veneers and glorious sadeli mosiac, made from tiny pieces of faux ivory, pewter, green semi-precious stone. The box is in a sarcophagus form with domed lid. The original brass carry handles are on the sides. The interior is in great condition and consists of a removeable mirror under the lid portion, with the original red velvet lining behind it. The base is removeable and contains a number of lidded compartments. 6 of the interior lids on the base, are each inlaid with sadeli mosaic banding. The rest are also carved and chased. The interior is fully complete with 7 lidded faux ivory/bone, thread canisters with sadeli domes and the original bone thimble. The box sits on 4 brass ball or bun feet with the original velvet lining on the base. Some minor repairs and losses, but this box is fully complete. This is ‘rare’ as many of these boxes have not survived in such condition! Included in the sale are 2 photos that were in the box (under the base tray). Interestingly, one of them is a view of downtown Nassau, New Providence (Bermuda) from the early 20C and stamped on the rear. What a ‘journey’ this piece has made! Made in India … travelled to Bermuda, probably via Britain … back to Ireland (where we bought it) …. then to Texas! 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! Of it’s type, this one, is one of the very higher quality one’s, than the norm! 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...

Early 19th century fine antique Indo-Persian carved sandalwood wooden box. Incredibly intricate, highly detailed and deeply carved beautiful handcrafted and carved wooden box with Mu...

Continental porcelain trinket box w/ patinated bronze hinges, 18th-19th century. Charming hand painted idyllic outdoor scene of a courting couple with...

Large rectangular antique wooden Campaign chest with brass hardware Brass lock has unknown signed makers mark on it.  

Rare antique blue box in folk art from Sweden made during the mid 1800s. The box is an attractive size and can be used for anything from storing documents and stationary to perfume a...