19th Century Boxes

Majolica tobacco jar Onnaing, circa 1890. The two handles are elephants heads, decorated with corn, the handle of the jat is a corn. Usually in ...

This antique coal scuttle was created in England, circa 1880. Built of copper with a brass and turned walnut handle, the oblong bucket stands on a round base. The versatile decorativ...

A Fabulous and Unusual 19th Century French Dore Bronze Mounted White Opaline Egg Form Covered Nesting Box. The intricate craftsmanship of this piece is a ...

Japanese lacquered box decorated with birds and foliage signed Lacquered inside and outside Late 19th Century Without key Some scratches and losses Ideal for storing jewelry.

Small alabaster Chest 19th century Italian work.

This exquisite, antique pigskin box was crafted in Rouen France, circa 1870. This leather box features leather straps and handle embellished with decorativ...

Jewelry box in Marquetry of the 19th century Jewelry box in wood Marquetry, Napoleon III period, 19th century Dimensions: H: 8cm, W: 15cm, D: 10cm.

An exemplary George III chinoiserie and floral design penwork jewellery box, dated 1816. This superb example in flawless condition is incredibly well decorated onto sycamore, depic...

Antique late-19th century Victorian walnut cased games compendium, the interior comprising a chess set, draughts, dominoes, dice, cribbage board with markers, leather bound boards for games, playing cards, droughts counters, a dice shaker...

19th Century Antique Oak Briefnbox/Casket, Germany Rectangular solid oak body with fittings. The box is relatively large and wide and offers a lot of space. The box can be used in m...

Red lacquer box with the lid representing a scholar and children playing in a mountainous garden, the outer sides covered with repeated geometric patterns. This box was made in China...

19th century Italian Confraternity Voting Urn of Tuscan origin realized with turned and carved poplar wood. The barrel-shaped central body, in which hands were inserted to insert the ballot ball into one of the two holes connected to the small drawer below, where on the front we find the inscription YES and NO related to voting, SI and NO, in order to distinguish for and against votes on paper, then collected in two separate small drawers, just below. Standing on four curly feet, it has a beautiful curved handle and carved parts at both ends, highlighted by ebonized details. In a fraternity, this ballot box was used to collegially adjudicate community choices. In good age related condition, with sogns of wear and use. This antique Italian ballot wooden box, carved and painted, coming from Tuscany, in Central Italy. This ballot urn is an excellent example of a 19th century wooden voting box...

Game box, 19th century. Napoleon III period game box, 19th century in precious wood marquetry. Measures: H: 5 cm, W: 22 cm, D: 13 cm.

A French Louis-Philippe period foot and bed warmer from the early 19th century, with large handle. Created in France during the second quarter of the 19th century, this wooden bed wa...

Bohemian crystal box, 19th century Bohemian crystal box, white and gold enameled, circa 1880, Napoleon III period, mounted with gilt brass. Meas...

A scarce fine quality antique silver-inlaid solid brass betel nut box (Lutuan), dating to the second half of the 19th / early 20th century, hand-crafted in Mindanao, Philippines. Boxes such as this were used to store the areca nut (also known as the betel nut) which would be wrapped in a betel leaf with lime paste and other ingredients, often tobacco, for chewing. Similar to the European tea caddy, these boxes often served as a way to impress while showing off ones wealth. Betel chewing was prevalent in the southern Philippines as in much of the rest of Southeast Asia. Wealthier Maranao families on Mindanao were able to afford elaborate silver-inlaid brass betel boxes such as this example. Such boxes were used to show off to guests and from which they were offered betel and the other component such as leaves and lime to make up the betel quid. Rare large size, most extant examples of such boxes tend to measure around 5 inches in length. At slightly more than 7.75 inches the example here is larger than most. The distinctive decorative box features a very heavy strong-box like rectangular shaped chest form with canted corners, copper handles, and a conforming hinged lid, lifting open to reveal an interior divided into three compartments covered by four hinged lids. Each of these doors is inlaid with silver in stylized orchid flower patterns. Exceptionally executed throughout, the arabesque silver inlaid exterior is decorated to the top with a large orchid motif within scrolling obid-obid (stylized rope) borders. The front, back and sides are inlaid with sets of stylized tail feathers of the sari-manok bird beneath which are unusual, highly stylized whimsical zoomorphic faces that appear like cat or tiger faces. (Such stylisation is accounted for by Southeast Asian Islamic preferences to avoid the overt and this potentially idolatrous representation of animal and human forms. Designs such as these are drawn from a local design repertoire that has its origins in wood carving. Although the spread of Islam in the Philippines began in the 14th century, mostly through the influence of Muslim merchants from the western Malay Archipelago, decorative arts in this design remain exceptionally rare. This lutuan represents a fine example of Islamic metalwork from the most eastern outreach of Islamic art and civilisation: Mindanao island being significantly further east than even China – artwork from Islamic Southeast Asia remains chronically under-represented in the world’s major collections of Islamic art. PROVENANCE / ACQUISITION Acquired from highly reputable auction house, Austin Auction Gallery, established 1983, Austin, Texas. References Brownrigg, H., Betel Cutters...

Chinese carved wood teapot caddy. The front panel has a hole opening for the spout, with a shaped wood carrying handle inserted into the ears, the lid havi...

The following is a truly remarkable Antique Rosewood Jewellery Box, boasting an unparalleled combination of style and practicality. The...

Folk Art flour box from northern Sweden. The box was made by hand during the mid-1800s from pine and was used to store flour. Boxes like this would be standi...

Beautiful antique wooden game box from the French Napoleon III period. The wood is inlaid with a brass emblem and brass piping, this gold color contr...

P0241 Attractive rosewood jewellery box with mother of pearl inlays, lined interior and original working lock with a key. This antique box is in home ready condition. UK mainland del...

Important box, Sèvres porcelain box, Napoleon III period. Sèvres porcelain box, jewelry box, decorated with gallant scenes, signed, gilded brass mount, very nice quality, 19th cen...

Jewelry box Japan 1890/1900 decorated with a hundred Menukis in embossed brass and inlays measuring height 33 x 33 x 15 cm. Menukis are ornamental pi...

Beautifully decorated hand carved, painted and lacquered, hinged wig box with chinoiserie theme gilding and paint design. Chinese red painted interior. Bras...

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 fine diminutive French Neoclassical ormolu gilded metal jewelry casket. Born around the turn of the 18th/19th century, the exceptionally executed petite masterpiece features a rectangular chest shape with hinged dome lid, opening to the original worn ivory silk-lined interior, when removed revealing mark "XVII" (c.1785-1795) to the bottom of the interior. The top, front, sides and back magnificently decorated in ornate repousse ornamentation, classical masks, fruit filled urns flanked by cherubs...

Stunning and Rare Example of an Irish well grained Ladys or Gentlemans Coromandel Travelling Writing Slope of good size proportions, made in Dublin, Ireland by George Austin. Third q...

Superb quality Gillows regency mahogany teapoy circa 1820. The main body being of sarcophagus form, which opens to 4 mahogany slides on each corner, 1 large tole compartment flanked...

Amazing Marquetry and inlay on this Sorrento Napoli Box C1880. There is craftsmanship of the highest caliber all over this box. Box front drops down to reveal inside completely cover...

Antique English Regency rosewood travelling lap desk box, circa 1830.

Executed using heavy Baccarat cut crystal glass with a starburst design on the top A early superb French glass Casket This fine box is decorated...

This is a good example of a traditional Japanese Hokai shell storage box for the Kai-awase game. This box is well-detailed in chased brass appliques and makie. The box is in overall ...

PRESENTING AN ABSOLUTELY STUNNING AND EXCEPTIONAL 19C Anglo Indian Highly Carved Padouk Sadeli Mosaic Scroll Box of Hindu Gods from circa 1870-80. The box case is made from sandalwood with highly hand-carved padouk wood reliefs on all sides and banded and edged in fabulous ‘Sadeli Mosaic’, made from faux ivory/bone, ebony, silver, semi-precious green stone, etc., in various geometric patterns. The carved lid of this box is EXCEPTIONAL! It is HIGHLY HAND-CARVED and depicts 13 Hindu Gods: Vishnu, Shiva, Harihara, etc., in 9 oval shaped reliefs, surrounded by foliage etc. The sides and rear have highly carved foliage relief panels. The lid opens to reveal the original red velvet lining (also on the base) in SUPERB CONDITION throughout. The QUALITY of the ‘sadeli mosaic’ work is EXCEPTIONAL all over. It has its key and working lock. It sits on it’s 4 original brass turned ball feet. THIS IS A HIGH QUALITY & VERY RARE AND DESIRABLE BOX! 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...

Stunning and exceptional example of a well grained Dome Topped Fully Fitted Double Coromandle Tea Caddy of compact proportions, late 19th century, of English origin. The rectangular hinged lid opening to reveal an original sectional interior complete with twin dome shaped finial covers, the outer body with lavish polished brass applied decorative mounts Condition: Good condition, original good surface patination. Lock is present, key does not turn, some wear to fabric under the lid. Height: 6.5" (16.5cm). Width: 8.5" (21.5cm). Depth: 4.5" (11.5cm). Location: Dublin City, Ireland. Affordable Fixed charge Worldwide Store to door shipping. Coromandel: also known as Makassar Ebony, is a member of the genus Diospyros and one of the plants commonly known as ebony. Coromandel ebony wood is variegated, streaky brown and black, nearly always wide striped. It is considered a highly valuable wood for turnery, fine cabinet work and joinery. The tree grows up to 20 meters under favourable circumstances, although such trees are rarely seen nowadays. Since Coromandel ebony has been a woodworker's favorite for centuries, most of it has been felled and used in high quality furniture. The natural area of distribution are some Indonesian islands.As this exceptionally beautiful species of the Ebonies has been much appreciated by woodworkers all over the world through the past 2 centuries...

Antique Victorian quality burr walnut writing box with brass bound corners and straps opening to reveal a fitted writing slope, pen tray, original ink bottle, two lift up lids openin...

Very rare bentwood box made by hand in pine from Sweden. The box has a great size which is significantly larger than most other boxes. It is made by hand with excellent craftsmanship...

Painted four sided box, the top is split and hinged on each half to allow access from both sides; all sides and top with similar decorative and vivid painti...

A fine regency brass inlaid rosewood twin canister tea caddy. A lovely quality sarcophagus regency rosewood tea caddy dating to 1820, inlaid with a beautiful brass Foliate design to...

Antique Tinwear Tea Caddy From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to offer this documented early 19th century Tinwear tea caddy. The top of cushioned shape with raised han...

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique enamel and English silver filigree box; an addition to our silver ornamental collection. This except...

A refined antique French tea caddy from the end of Napoleon III. The box is beautifully inlaid with different types of wood and brass, outside around ...

French Painted Papier Maché Snuffbox 1800s. Snuff box of circular shape with fine painting on the lid depicting a mountain landscape with figures and herds crossing a river, a dove f...

A scarce very fine quality Napoleon III Period (1852-1870) gilt bronze ormolu mounted inlaid glove box by important Parisian ébéniste Paul Sormani (1817-1877) Exquisitely hand-cra...

Scandinavian hand painted folk art pine box, circa 1850. Fine example of traditional Swedish hand painted woodenware. Slight dome topped li...

19th century burr elm teapoy circa 1840. Very good quality example of a scandinavian teapoy with a strong influence from the english Regency period. Sarcophagus shaped main bod...

A Monumental Louis XIV style French gilt-bronze mounted wood boulle marquetry casket box, circa 1895 Known in French as a carré de toilette, this casket has canted corners with lavi...

A very early 19th century English work box with two very unusual inlay designs. Especially the heart where the keyhole is. Box has a tray in the velvet lined ...

This is a hand made tea caddy Lidded box in the shape of an Apple, made from hardwood and dating to the 19th century. The Apple shaped box has a hinged lid with a short hand carve...

Rare & Unusual Advertising Tea Barrel Caddy The Tea Caddy modelled in the form of a coopered barrel complete with two thick brass straps around a beautifully patinated body with a mahogany plinth having a cavetto edge. The lid with a matching cavetto edge having a beautiful star inlay motif surmounted by a turned finial in the shape of an acorn. The front of the caddy is beautifully inlaid in Ebony with the word Tea in a 3d effect. We are confident this Caddy would have been commissioned as an advertising piece for a luxury tea shop in the mid-19th century with tea being such a desirable commodity in higher society. Provenance Sold at Grosvenor House antique fair...

An extraordinary jewelery casket box made of clear glass with ruby decoration Decorated all around with gilded ruby and white enamel and gilding highlights Bohemia, 19th century.

Beautiful walnut desktop box which opens into a writing slope. Decorated on the outside with 2 decorative inlaid tunbridge ware bands. Box opens out to a beige fabric writing slo...

Painted steel bound trunk, with hand wrought steel straps on all sides, open interior with candle box on right, original steel hinges. The top has ''bread ...

Pretty Japanese lacquered box decorated with birds and foliage. signed Lacquered inside and outside Late 19th century Without key Nice lock Ideal for storing jewelry.

Antique northern Swedish chest in original condition. The chest is an attractive mid size where it’s large enough to be practical as well as stylish while not being too overwhelming....

We kindly suggest you read the whole description, because with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects. Eleg...

Antique hand-made flour box from Sweden made in folk art during the second half of the 19th century, around 1860 to 1870. These boxes were either hung on the...

A Delightful Early 19th Century, Regency Period, Burr Yew Wood Tea Caddy Of Sarcophagus Form Having Boxwood Strung Decoration, Original Ormolu Handles To Side...

An antique jubako (stack boxes) with five tiers in an elongated octagon shape circa 19th century (end of Edo or beginning of Meiji period). jubako was traditionally used to store and...