19th Century Boxes

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...

Elegant vintage Limoges 22-karat gold trinket jewelry boxes. French vintage Limoges porcelain in cobalt royal blue with fine gold decor. Marked on base as “Limoges France" Porcelain D' Art ”. Beautiful cobalt blue porcelain with 22-karat gold hand painted with with the classic courtesan scene of a man and woman in the Louis XVI period attire. Perfect gift for your special someone. One small box. 6 x6 cm / 2.32 x 2.32 inches One piano box...

A French late 19th century Empire style crystal box with classical gilt bronze mounts.

19th Century swedish folk art bentwood box, with nice patina. Owner marks at the top and bottom, KB 1848. Good antique condition with historic knocks, marks, scratches and wear as is...

Beautiful antique jewelry box in original wood finish, metal hardware and round legs. Great metal carving details especially on the legs.

Antique 19th Century Swiss Rosewood Music Box

A Victorian oval desk box. Beautiful and very attractive desk box, created in London England during the Victorian era (1837-1901), back in the 1888. This rare box was crafted with...

Antique English 19th century Tea Caddy with Sheffield Silver Trim

A fine quality marquetry inlaid walnut and olive wood Italian letter or paper box, the shaped top lid with a pastoral scene and shepherdess. Circa 1870

Beautiful Victorian Burr Walnut Studded Keepsake Chest With Engraved Brass Details & Camel Bone Supports 1800's Would make an ideal present for any occ...

Elegant and beautiful Dressing Table or it could be suitable for a jewellery box , Meiji Period ( 1868 - 1912 ). Executed with black lacquer, holding a bronze hand mirror ( ekagami) Configured with five smooth-running drawers of different Size. Two are equipped with slender "hirute"-shaped bail handles and three with decorative pull-rings. The front-and backside featuring oval grips for easy transport. Surmounted by a mirror frame in a shape reminiscent of a Shintô shrine torii-gate- a twin-posted framework with a triangular crossbar flared in upswept Chinese-style gable ( Karahafu) endings. Resting of the frame is the Japanese traditional handheld mirror with auspicious embossed design of wisteria ( fuji) and lovely patina. Inscription on the right. Considering its age the set is in a very good condition with some traces of usage and wear conform age. Dimensions: Dressing stand...

Sycamore Tea Chest Circa 1815 From our Tea Caddies collection, we are delighted to offer this Regency Penwork Tea Chest. The Chest crafted from Syca...

Fine Unusual Bohemian Casket Jewelry Box with Hinged Bronze Mounts Dore Bronze Swinging Handles Lid is Framed in Bronze Clear Glass with Milky...

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

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...

Silver Sugar box, Vienna 1867-1872 An Austrian-Hungary silver sugar box with hinged lid. On the lid a rose with leaves as knob. A rectangular box with beautiful round scalloped body...

Beautiful Napoleon III liqueur cellar in blackened wood and marquetry of brass, mother-of-pearl, and rosewood fillets. Interior lined with a crystal service with beautiful floral dec...

A well executed and large scale English antique Bartlett & Son Japanned tole tea canister oval cylindrical form with Japanned decoration on a green ground enclosed with gilt decor...

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...

PRESENTING A LOVELY 19C Anglo Indian Highly Carved Padouk Wood with Sadeli Mosaic Inlay Sewing Box. Made in Bombay, India, circa 1880. The box is made of sandalwood with highly carved raised padouk 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...

A large and intricately decorated Empire lacquer work sewing box. Early 19th century Europe. The box is decorated with pastoral scenes and an intricate pattern on the edges. The ins...

An English rectangular box from the 19th century, featuring an inlaid design of miscellaneous woods known to collectors as Tunbridgeware. Exterior with a geometric pattern design ...

Very magnificent glazed ceramic tobacco box, an original from the end of the 19th century, by Bernhard Bloch, from Bohemia / Austria. The box is wonderfully elaborated with a base t...

19th century marquetry fruitwood desktop box circa 1890. Good quality desktop box covered with marquetry on all surfaces. Sloped front with decorative star panel.  Top opens to reve...

Tabacco box, Pot in Majolica. Characters Decor pattern. Brown and blue color. It has been made in Germany circa 19th century. Signed Western Germany.

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! From circa 1870-80, it is a highly carved Padouk wood cover with raised carved reliefs, bordered with Sadeli Mosaic from Bombay and edged in faux ivory/ivorine and ebony stringing. The fact that this is a Book/Folio Cover, for the holding and keeping of your books or manuscripts, in ‘good order’, is what makes this piece so RARE! We have been collecting Anglo-Indian items...

A very handsome late 19th century silver plate humidor.

A Swedish late 19th century burr walnut sarcophagus form sewing box from Gnesta, with working lock and key, lift out tray and partitioned interior. This high-quality Swedish sarcophagus-form walnut sewing box...

A 19th century French Provençal fariniere, or decorative box made of walnut with fine hand-carved decoration. Waxed patina. This beautifully crafted household item was commonly given...

19th Century Burmese (Myanmar) solid silver betel box on stand, of traditional shape, highly-decorative, each part is chased in very high-relief with various scenes from Burmese folk...

English Regency Tea Caddy with Inlay and Interior Lid, 19th Century

Experience the timeless allure of our Old English Sheffield silver plate art deco style tea caddy, adorned with captivating lion head side handles and an attached cover. This extra...

19th century Kashmiri Hand Painted Trinket Box A true work of art, this mid-19th century Kashmiri handcrafted trinket box is covered in beautiful detail. Including peacocks, birds, flowers, and foliage. The hand painted detail is raised from the box with gold gilded paint and vibrant colours. The box is hinged with its original key and painted orange inside, this example would likely have been owner by a wealthy individual considering the amount of detail and craftsmanship that has gone into creating it, A rare survivor. Size of inches approx.: H 4” x W 11.5” x D 4.5” Completely solid in structure and form, with natural wear, loss of surface detail, the paint has worn away over years with damage in areas and loss of detail, The key is present however the lock does not close. The House of...

A beautifully detailed French, brass mounted, marquetry and inlaid burl, fruitwood, and kingwood dresser box. The top is domed and the interior lined with original velvet. Bass bandi...

A beautiful antique wooden box. The lid is hand painted with a cheerful representation of two playing dogs who try to catch a mouse. The painting is bright in color and refined. It...

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...

English Square Burl Tea Caddy with Brass Stringing and Interior Lid, 19th Century

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 ...

Lovely shaped treen glove powderer 5 holes in the top Beautiful colour of wood. Possibly pearwood The companion piece is turned bone. About the same dat...

Small Rectangular Period Empire Trinket Box in Veneered Mahogany and Brass Panels on the Edges, Denmark Circa 1825.

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...

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.

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 ...

PRESENTING A STUNNING Early 19C French Gold Box with Enamel and Miniature Portrait. Box made with brass but has been plated with 18ct Gold with beau...

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 ...

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...

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver vinaigrette modelled in the form of a book; an addition to our silver boxes collection. This exceptional antique Victorian sterling silver vinaigrette has been realistically modelled in the form of a book. The body of this antique silver vinaigrette...

This is a small antique apprentice-piece chest. An Anglo-Indian, carved teak Colonial keepsake box, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1880....

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

A mahogany strong box made for the Ovenden Female Society, Instituted May 1809, of deep rectangular form with a hinged lid, three brass locks, brass carrying handles and an applied b...

A nice antique cigar box, made of oak, decorated with bronze and copper mounts. Central plaque depicting horses. Lifting system. Space for 30 cig...

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...

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

A Fantastic 19th century French Louis XVI Style Dore Bronze Mounted Blue Opaline Crystal Box. The box is composed of two sections of French opaline crystal which are mounted to a fab...

Originally used as a safe or strong-box, this antique iron trunk remains a trustworthy vault for treasured possessions. Made in 19th century France,...

Antique 19th Century Victorian solid silver & enamel quite wonderful cigar box, made by one of the leading silversmiths of the day. The eminent firm of Sampson Mordan & Co Ltd was fo...

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver and enamel Punch and Judy book vesta case; an addition to our range of collectable silver cases. This exceptional antique Victorian sterling silver vesta case has been realistically modelled in the form of a book. The anterior surface of the antique vesta...

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...