19th Century Boxes

An exceptionally elegant late 19th-century antique French clear cut crystal jewelry box or dresser casket, measuring 13 cm in height, 11 cm in length, and 8 cm in width. Sculpted fro...

Inlaid with floral sprays of engraved mother of pearl and brass From our Sewing Box collection, we are delighted to offer this William IV Rosewood Inlaid Sewing Box. The Sewing Box ...

FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING Mauchline Ware tea caddy by Smiths, dating to the late Georgian period during the reign of George IV, circa 1830. The caddy of rectangular form is construct...

Vintage late 19th century Tramp Art Box inset with mirror and fabric. "Tramp Art" objects began in the 1870s, driven by the abundance of wooden cigar boxes and their availability to ...

Antique Victorian quality rosewood jewellery box having a quality antique Victorian rosewood jewellery box with a lift up lid opening to...

Gold Bird Box Charles Bruguier Circa 1840 An exceptionally rare 19th-century automaton treasure, this gold singing bird box was created by Charles Abraham Bruguier of Geneva circa 1840. One of only a few known examples of its kind, it embodies the extraordinary craftsmanship that has made Bruguier's work among the most coveted mechanical masterpieces of the era. Crafted in gold, the case is richly chased with ivy tendrils, floral scrolls and geometric borders. At its center, a hand-painted enamel oval depicts a beautiful view of Mont Blanc. When the lever is activated, the lid opens to reveal a remarkably lifelike bird adorned with real feathers. As it sings a vibrant melody, the bird turns its head, flaps its wings and tail and rotates with captivating realism. Beneath this enchanting display lies a signed and numbered fusee movement (No. 598) with an intricate eight-cam song sequence, a highly sophisticated mechanism that delivers exceptionally consistent power and an unusually complex, naturalistic birdsong. Reserved for the finest Swiss automata, fusee movements required extraordinary precision to manufacture and are rarely encountered in surviving singing bird boxes. Charles Abraham Bruguier (1788–1862), the last true heir to the Jaquet-Droz tradition, honed his craft in Geneva and London. He elevated singing bird mechanisms with remarkable refinement, building upon the innovations of Les Frères Rochat...

Superb quality antique Victorian burr walnut brass bound writing box having brass bounded corners and edges around a superior quality burr walnut writing box opening to reveal a writ...

A very pleasing, late 19th century, double compartment tea caddy. This marvellous and rare tea caddy is in very good condition and the burl walnut has a truly warm, deep and rich pa...

A "remarkable" hand carved mahogany humidor box according to the appraiser has detailed carving of junk boats and temples, and recalls Victoria Harbor ...

Antique Pewter Caviar Box Herring Fish Lid Glass Insert Luxury Tableware An exceptional antique silver pewter caviar box, masterfully handcrafted and richly adorned with intricate A...

Impressive antique Anglo Indian box crafted in mahogany, clad in tortoise shell, and ambitiously decorated with bone. The inside has a mirror and red felt lining.

Brass bound Regency period rosewood document box by Wells & Lambe with brass edges, geometric line inlay and flush mounted skeletal lift handles. The top with a monogramed rectangula...

19th century Anglo-Indian wooden box fitted with various compartments finely hand carved. The top is finely hand carved with the Taj Mahal. The interior with removable hand carved nine-lidded compartments, the front cover has a mirror, the whole exhibiting very fine workmanship. This fine late Victorian Anglo-Indian box from India is in great condition for it age. A beautiful example of an Anglo-Indian fine art...

Small Dutch 19th Century Silver Lodderein or Snuff Box by Dirk de Gilde Koppenol A Lodderein box or a snuff box in rectangular shape with filigree motif The Silversmith is Dirk de ...

FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING Tea chest with Chinoiserie decoration, of rectangular sarcophagus form with a slightly tapered body and angled lid, raised upon four brass ball feet and dat...

A 19th century French fariniere, made of walnut with nicely detailed hand-carved floral relief on front panel. Good craftsmanship with dovetailed construction. Waxed patina. Small re...

A Beautiful & Luxurious Handcrafted Victorian Bramah Fold-out Travelling Writing Companion With Fitted Leather Interior, Ceramic Blotting Tablets. Complete with Beautifully Desi...

Rustic Spanish chateau champagne grape harvesting basket constructed from woven wicker reeds. Features a thick braided top with handles ...

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 ...

This is a small oval shaped antique metal Pill Box with Inlay to the lid and dating to the Edwardian or late Victorian period. The box is made ...

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...

Small lacquered painted box, with floral decorations in yellow, red and green, it was made in China in the 19th century.

A Very Attractive Late Regency Period Rosewood Tea Caddy, Of Elegant Sarcophagus Form, Having Domed Lid With Mother Of Pearl Inlaid Decoration, Enclosing Two Lidded Divisions, Raised...

Charming 19th Century Painted Oak Country House Box or Chest A delightful piece of English folk art, this 19th-century country oak chest is beautifully hand painted as a Georgian ...

Early 19th century regency mahogany tea caddy circa 1820. Made using flame mahogany veneers.  Brass handles with star motif to the sides.  Canted corners strung with satinwood.  Sta...

A Danish or English late 19th century or early 20th century dresser jar or trinket executed in engraved gilt bronze and with a lid framed with floral needlepoint hand-work behind gla...

Pretty little Japanese lacquered box. On a golden metal medal inside we can read the royal motto of the Netherlands, adorned with a lion: "Je maintiendrai...

A small Sinhalese Porcupine Quill Box with a sliding lid. The panels of porcupine quill panels arranged in a chevron pattern, bordered with ebony and bone inlaid banding. Ceylonese ...

Jewelry box numbered below on the bottom. France Paris 1800, gilded metal. Interior with period silk satin padding. Precious and splendid antique jewelry box. The jewelry box is made...

Anglo-Indian Inlaid Hardwood Humidor or Tobacco Box, Attributed to Vizagapatam, British India, Late 19th Century A finely constructed Anglo-Indian humidor or tobacco box of compact ...

This is a French bronze metal overlayed round glass hand painted vanity/powder jar. The glass jar is decorated with a pattern of pierced columns of flowers alternated with engraved l...

English Victorian rattan and woven box with brass handle

Fine antique Imperial Russian lacquer Racing Winter Troika jewelry casket by the Lukutin Workshops 19th Century In exceptionally fine condition with original key The Russian lacquerw...

A refined and elegant silver serving dish with lid, measuring an impressive 30 cm in diameter, designed to bring both functionality and sophistication to the dining table. This beaut...

Unusual pagoda form caddy finely figured veneers. Interior lids are original and match the exterior of the caddy, resting on brass ball feet

FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING The Tea Caddy turned in Sycamore shaped as a natural Pear fruit in bulbous form with slightly tapered lid surmounted by a naturalistic stalk to the top and ...

A 19th century French fariniere, made of walnut with nicely detailed hand-carved floral relief on front panel. Good craftsmanship with dovetailed construction. Waxed patina. From Pro...

An 18th century French fariniere, made of walnut with nicely detailed hand carved sunflower relief on front panel. Good craftsmanship with dovetailed construction. Waxed patina. From...

PRESENTING A GORGEOUS 19C Anglo Indian Highly Carved Sadeli Mosaic Sarcophagus Sewing Box. Made in Bombay, India circa 1860-80. Box made of sandalwood with highly carved teak wood reliefs and panels on all sides. Edged with bone and ebony veneers and glorious sadeli mosaic, 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...

Antique Regency quality mahogany inlaid tea caddy having inlaid satinwood stringing, original ornate brass handles and escutcheon, lift up lid opening to reveal two tea caddies Dim...

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...

Regency rosewood sarcophagus form Tea Caddy. With circular Brass keyhole escutcheon plate.

An Exquisite Example of an Early Rosewood Travelling Writing Slope of fairly large proportions of Continental origin, possibly French. Circa first half of the Nineteenth Century prob...

An oval Guilloche Nephrite Jade Trinket Box adorned with Louis XV Rococo gold and silver foliage swags. An example of "Fauxberge", the box is bearing spurious marks, including a Fabe...

Japanese gilt lacquer document box with a calligraphy Document, painted and gilt in flowers, a dedicated artwork. The original decorated strings ...

Stunning Example of two Trinket or Jewelry Boxes of small proportions, both made during the first half of the Nineteenth Century, of English or French origin. Rectangular box made e...

Beautiful 19th Century Eastern Tortoiseshell and Bone Trinket Box, Lined with Blue Velvet on Paw Feet. Ideal for jewellery or keepsakes or just as a ...

We present you a low wooden coffret, whose surface is covered with diamond-shaped mother of pearl tiles. This item is from Q3 of the 19th century. The mother of pearl is made of two types of seashell. Furthermore, the inside is lined with claret velvet. The frames of the lid and base are made of ivory. Presented item is in good condition. Some mother of pearls tiles...

A superb Folk Art sailors valentine Tramp Art keepsake box. Wide in form, this beautiful Primitive wood carved box features the letters S and M with a heart between on both sides. Tw...

Late 1800s antique firewood box with artistic Brass Panels Tavern imagery Rectangular shape six sided with a slope. Preowned vintage original c...

19th century Italian Renaissance style octagonal box with burl wood and veneer fruit wood and dyed wood inlay. Florence, Italy circa 1890's. This lovely small box is decorated with w...

This box is a jewelry box or a decorative box. It was made in the 19th century, in England, Victorian Period. Its lid is made in wood, brown in color.

A handsome mid-Victorian mahogany travelling dressing case or medicine chest by Thomson, London, dating from the mid-19th century. Of compact rectangular form, the case is fitted wi...

An absolutely charming Victorian novelty jewellery box made from very heavy cast brass and I think that the dog himself is Bronze, with traces of the o...

This is an antique travelling vanity case. An English, coromandel jewellery box, dating to the early Victorian period, circa 1850. Striking...

An antique English Tunbridge box with geometric inlay, hinged lid, red velvet interior, felted bottom and comes with working key. The box with a diamond form inlaid medallion flanked...

Wonderful solid tropical hardwood writing box or slope Fabulous colour and figure in the wood Fine brass hardware With secret drawers* Pair of original brass topped inkwells Rep...

Very charming Swedish miniature chest of drawers in birch in Karl Johan (Swedish Empire) from the 1820s. Perfect for jewels or other smaller items. Wear consistent with age and use

19Thc Original paint decorated red over blue swing handled pantry box from New England.This amazing over painted pantry box has wonderful 19thc decoration and is in good condition.

A Handmade Victorian Burr Walnut & Inlay Tea Caddy With Brass Hinges A tea caddy is a box, jar, canister, or other receptacle used to store tea. When first introduced to Europe from Asia, tea was extremely expensive, and kept under lock and key. The containers used were often expensive and decorative, to fit in with the rest of a drawing-room or other reception room. Hot water was carried up from the kitchen, and the tea made...