Engraved Boxes

Handmade George III style oblong box in sterling silver. On the body of the box typical lines with fluted. The lid has the same design but embossed. The han...

Shaped snuffbox in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with fired enamel inserted in a fine hand engraving and with round miniature diameter cm. 3.3 hand painted always with fire enamels depicting a sailing ship. Early 19th century Viennese Baroque style. Fine hand engraving on all sides and bottom. Measurements cm. 7.5 x 7.5 x 2. Weight gr. 151. Designed by Franco Salimbeni in 1976 on inspiration of ancient original artifacts and manufactured in Florence at the Salimbeni company headquarters in several specimens, also with different colors and miniatures, with completely manual execution by artisan artists with thick slabs and large reinforcements suitable for supporting numerous high-fire enamelled firings at approximately 750 < 800° C. Miniature is a very ancient technique which consists of painting works in small proportions. It was born for the decoration of the first letter of the paragraph of the books. Over the years, however, this technique is refined and enriched, then moving on to precious personal items. Hand-painted miniatures can be done with multiple different techniques. The most important that we use on our articles are of three kinds: 1) Fire enamel. 2) Water tempera on an ivory plate. 3) Painted on mother-of-pearl. Fire enameled miniatures: On a first layer of enamel generally white or very clear or even transparent suitably liquefied at a temperature of about 750 ° C, the chosen subject is painted using miniature colors which are as many colored crystals, ground and reduced to a very fine, almost impalpable powder washed and purified in distilled water with the addition of small quantities of deoxidizing acids which, diluted with essential oils (usually essential oil of solder), can be mixed to form a palette of colors. With very fine sable hair brushes you draw the subject starting from the perimeter and then gradually adding various layers of color. It is necessary to carry out various firings very often so that the colors harden and are not absorbed by the underlying glaze as, during the subsequent firings at 750 ° C, during liquefaction, it would spread irremediably. Hence the need to form the painting a little at a time, cooking it numerous times. Therefore it is necessary to proceed with numerous retouching, often overlapping different colors that only the painter's experience knows. A beautiful miniature needs from 20 to over 50 firings and is finished when the painter deems he does not have to further intervene. Some colors must have darker tones than others because then, by superimposing the transparent enamel placed at the end of the miniature, they fade. This transparent layer, called “fondant” in jargon, must be smoothed and polished like all other translucent enamel colors. The miniatures with water tempera colors are painted on real ivory...

Unusual 19th-century German . 800 Silver Snuff Box with Repoussé Rural Scenes and Fruit Basket Lid A charming and unusually shaped 19th-century German silver snuffbox, expertly craf...

Decorative box in 925 sterling silver made in Milan - Italy - in the artisan workshop of the silversmith Osvaldo Monti. The box is round, curved and was hand-made from a sheet of 925...

Rectangular table box with concave corners in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamel on fine hand engraving of a landscape with ruins. Contemporary modern...

Round snuff box in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with fired enamel on the enameled edge with vertical stripes and fine monochrome miniature hand painted by the painter Renato Dainelli. Diameter cm. 6.2 cm high. 3.4. Weight gr. 222. Designed by Franco Salimbeni in 1967 and produced in Florence in the Salimbeni company headquarters with manual workmanship by skilled artisan artists with thick slab and large reinforcements suitable for withstanding numerous high-fire enamelled firings at approximately 750 < 800° C. Miniature is a very ancient technique which consists of painting works in small proportions. It was born for the decoration of the first letter of the paragraph of the books. Over the years, however, this technique is refined and enriched, then moving on to precious personal items. Hand-painted miniatures can be done with multiple different techniques. The most important that we use on our articles are of three kinds: 1) Fire enamel. 2) Water tempera on an ivory plate. 3) Painted on mother-of-pearl. Fire enameled miniatures: On a first layer of enamel generally white or very clear or even transparent suitably liquefied at a temperature of about 750 ° C, the chosen subject is painted using miniature colors which are as many colored crystals, ground and reduced to a very fine, almost impalpable powder washed and purified in distilled water with the addition of small quantities of deoxidizing acids which, diluted with essential oils (usually essential oil of solder), can be mixed to form a palette of colors. With very fine sable hair brushes you draw the subject starting from the perimeter and then gradually adding various layers of color. It is necessary to carry out various firings very often so that the colors harden and are not absorbed by the underlying glaze as, during the subsequent firings at 750 ° C, during liquefaction, it would spread irremediably. Hence the need to form the painting a little at a time, cooking it numerous times. Therefore it is necessary to proceed with numerous retouching, often overlapping different colors that only the painter's experience knows. A beautiful miniature needs from 20 to over 50 firings and is finished when the painter deems he does not have to further intervene. Some colors must have darker tones than others because then, by superimposing the transparent enamel placed at the end of the miniature, they fade. This transparent layer, called “fondant” in jargon, must be smoothed and polished like all other translucent enamel colors. The miniatures with water tempera colors are painted on real ivory...

Jewelry box in 925 sterling silver. The body of the box is rectangular and shaped which makes its line light and harmonious. The hinged lid is hand-engraved with volutes and Florentine lilies...

Octagonal snuff box in sterling silver 925/1000 gold plated with borders in the English Queen Anne style and sides with translucent fired enamels on ...

Egg on tripod with folding photo frame for 6 photos, inside, in 925/1000 sterling Silver gold plated, with translucent fired enamels on guillochè. ...

Precious rectangular sewing box in rosewood veneer called. Uncovered, it presents a mirror with braids on the back of the lid. This charming sewing set is lined with moire and pink velvet and is composed of two small square porcelain bottles with openwork polychrome flowers, marked "L" on the bottom, a removable rectangular pad supporting two spools of gold thread and finely chiseled with a central chiseled cartridge-shaped, overhung by a button. A central tray on a raised base holds five sewing items...

Completely handmade sterling silver candy box. The box is round and pot-bellied. Embossments and chisels of flowers were made all over the body. The box is divided into three sect...

Square snuff box with rounded sides in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamel on guillochè and hand painted miniature parrotlets on flowering branches. Ar...

Solid silver jewelry box. This box was made completely by hand, rectangular parallelepiped. To detach it and elevate it from the support surface, 4 small feet made with the casting t...

Round snuff box in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fire enamel on guilloche and hand-painted miniature of stylized blue bird, late 19th-century Viennese Art Nou...

This mother-of-pearl inlay perfume box is a rare and complete treasure from the famed Palais-Royal of France’s Second Empire. The box is a work of art, meticulously fashioned to deli...

English Regency rosewood letter box in casket form on brass feet with ring handles and a brass plaque engraved with name "lydia" and leather gold embossed pocket interior.

Pair of French Silver & Cut Glass Armorial Dresser Jars—AF Monogram, Bamboo Motif, 19th Century This elegant pair of French silver and cut glass dresser jars showcases exquisite cra...

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...

Rectangular box in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated, smooth on the sides. On the lid, a plate with a fine floral mosaic of semiprecious stones made with the “commesso fiorentino”...

1980s Venetian high-quality decorative trinket jewel glass box of imposing size and Hollywood Regency style, entirely handcrafted and blown in black Murano glass, extensively worked ...

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver tobacco box; an addition to our smoking related silverware collection. This exceptional antique Victorian sterling silver tobacco box has a plain oval rounded form. The underside of this box is embellished with a bright cut engraved stemmed rose, floral and foliate design; this indicates the high quality of the piece, as typically the underside would remain unembellished. The upper portion of this antique silver tobacco box...

Square snuff box in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with perforated lid, embossed and engraved by hand, with fine round miniature diameter cm. 3.8 hand painted in tempera on veg...

Handcrafted silvered metal trinket box with insets of semi-precious stones in hues of red jasper, green malachite, yellow citrine, and red carnelian agate. The round box has a series...

Rectangular box with rounded corners in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamel on a guilloché with hand-engraved and enamelled ornament in Arabic style. D...

Early 19th Century German 13 Loth Silver Repoussé Landscape Box, Hanau, Circa 1820 Measures: 2.25" W x 1.5" D x 0.75" H / 62 Grams A finely worked small silver box crafted in 13 l...

Leather trunk Spanish, 17th century Boiled Leather, wood and iron Measures: 22 x 53 x 32 cm. Provenance : - collection Metz-Noblat, Château de Clevant, France Rectangular trunk of the form and size of a small suitcase with wrought iron hinges and lock-plate. Wood, covered with leather, cut and embossed with every surface of the thick cow hide covered in interlace, zoomorphic features. The construction method is boiled leather, often referred to by its French translation cuir-bouilli: a process used to change flexible, vegetable-tanned leather into rigid, moulded objects. For shaping of the vegetable-tanned leather, heat and moisture were used, as indicated by the term boiled leather. No written medieval sources describing the production of decorated cuir bouilli objects survive, so knowledge of the process relies on the important studies of the Scottish leather historian John William Waterer. A large range of methods, materials and techniques could be used in various combinations. The vegetable-tanned leather, made supple with moisture and heat, was stuffed, shaped and nailed to the rigid wooden coffer support. The stuffing material was probably modeled beeswax or stearin wax. To shape the leather, to create its topography, « Cushions » were made by lacing a thread through an awl hole and attaching the flexible leather and stuffing to the rigid wooden support on the bottom. Then the decoration was done: lines were incised through the upper layer of the leather (epidermis) with different thicknesses of knives or needles. Contours were created with deep v-shaped cuts, decoration with thin incision and final details with a needle point. For the incision and pouncing stage, the leather was probably kept heated and moistened for suppleness. Once dry, the leather would be hard and rigid. the saturated leather is worked over a form, possibly even damp sand, with the pattern shaped using bone or wooden tools. Compare to metal, leather was lighter and it offered protection from cuts and punctures. Cuir bouilli objects were produced by specialist leather workers and needed skillful craftsmanship. The surface is filled with roundels shaped foliages enclosing animals, lions and peacocks. The foliate arabesques creating a vegetal connection tweet the animals create the impression of a lush verdant space . The vegetal pattern here employed in combination with geometrical pattern came from the pre-islamic artistic traditions of the Byzantine and Sasanian empires. An aspect of Islamic geometry Is the basic symmetrical repetition and mirroring of the shapes that create a sense of harmony. The decoration of this truck is inspired by the islamic « arabesque » a form of vegetal ornament composed of spirals, intertwining plants and abstract curvilinear motifs. An arabesque character is given to the birds of the decorations through extreme stylisation. This arabesque maintained the classical tradition of median symmetry, freedom in Detail and heterogeneity of ornament. The presence of the peacocks is a paradisiacal allusion: in popular Islamic literature they were among the original inhabitants of the garden of Paradise expelled with Adam and Eve. Peacock as a decorative motif may have originated in the West, despite their eastern provenance. There was an ancient belief that the flesh and feathers of peacock do not decay. This led to the peacock becoming a christian symbol for Christ’s resurrection. Renowned for their decorative wall hangings, seventeenth-century Spanish leatherworkers also produced utilitarian objects, such as this trunk. A similar trunk is on display at the Metropolitan museum of art ( 09.158.1). Related literature : Davies L. 2006. Cuir bouilli. Conservation of leather and related materials, 94-102, Oxford: elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann Grabar, Oleg. The Mediation of Ornament. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1992 Gabriela Germana Roquez, "El mueble en el Peru en el siglo XVIII...

A marvelous objet d'art is this exquisite Louis XVI-era étui. Crafted entirely of green and yellow gold, this stunning octagonal vessel bears an exceptional, engraved Neoclassical de...

Elegant Art Deco Sterling Silver Engraved Cigarette Case By Renowned British SilverSmiths Harman Bros. Birmingham 1931. Weight 129grams Hallma...

American Brilliant Period Cut Glass and Gorham Sterling Silver Yacht Humidor, Dated July 4th, 1906 – “Issaquena” A rare and evocative example of American decorative arts, this super...

An Italian enamelled snuff box. Colorful box, created in Italy, back in the 1920. It was crafted in an octagonal shape with neoclassical and renaissance Revival motifs in solid .8...

18th century Dutch brass tobacco box with hinged lid engraved with five circular medallions containing the busts of male noblemen figures with inscriptions and dates, the most recent...

A fine, early and very unusual Palais Royal Cupid and Harp musical box with two-air cylinder movement. The finely modelled cupid sits upon an Empire stool and plays a classical 16 s...

Ornate jewelry box, possibly converted from a cigar box in gilt bronze. Engine turned (Guilloche without enamel with gilt) and hand-engraved pattern...

Exquisite Antique Islamic-Mughal Engraved & Gilt Enamel Domed Box, #145 with import label, Persia/IIndia, 20th century This exquisite antique Mughal domed box is a stunning example of Indo-Islamic artistry from the 20th century, originating from Persia or India. Crafted from patinated cast and forged bronze, this work weighs nearly 10 pounds, emphasizing its substantial and durable construction. Standing 15 inches high with a diameter of 12.5 inches, the circular architectural design is both imposing and elegant. The box features an elaborate front latch hinge, complemented by a matching rear hinge, showcasing meticulous attention to detail in both form and function. Profusely decorated with intricate, exotic fine engravings and gilt enamel work, the surface is adorned with elaborate patterns that reflect the rich artistic heritage of the Mughal era. The patinated finish adds depth and character, enhancing the visual appeal of the engraved and gilded elements. Numbered 145 and accompanied by an import label, this piece holds not only aesthetic beauty but historic significance. The numbering suggests it may be part of a limited series or collection, adding to its uniqueness and value. Its impressive workmanship and historical roots make it a remarkable find for collectors or an addition to any interior.  Ready to place in any setting, this domed box serves as both a functional storage piece and a captivating decorative object. Its substantial size and weight make it a standout addition to any room, whether displayed on a mantle, side table, or within a curated collection. This Mughal bronze...

Unique piece. “Grissinato” turned wood box with decorated blue crystal, blue corrugated crystal lid, hand-decorated. “Pipe smoking man” decoration. Designed by masters Gio Ponti &...

Victorian Sterling Silver Repoussé Trinket Box with Putti Garden Scene, London, 1886, by Jacob & John Keyser Dimensions: 3.75” W x 2.5” D x 1.25” H, 79 grams Country of Origin: En...

19th century English Oak Liquor Bottle Case with brass Chubb lock and brass handle engraved with Capt. E.J. Ward R. A. relative to Captain Edward Jo...

Antique silver plated footed jewelry box, features cast and engraved motifs reminiscent of the Rococo Era. The hinged and scalloped lid opens to reveal a black velvet felt interior....

A dutch tortoiseshell box with two engraved silver plaques Amsterdam, 1691, with maker's mark of Steven des Rousseaux (1654-1733) H. 5 cm Diam. 12.5 cm Note: Steven des ...

Box Black White and Red enamel is Inspired by drawings by Louis Cartier from the 1920 in Art Deco style and recreated for Cartier USA in the 1976. It is in 925/1000 Sterling Silver. ...

Iconic Tiffany & Co. sterling silver 925 box. Beautifully hand engraved design and detailing on top and sides and center with initialed monogram: KGR. Approx. dimensions: 5.50” l x 1...

A word, writing and sometimes a drawing... Just like words that leave a trace in our soul and resist with us against the abrasion of time, the artifacts carrying the same traces are ...

1970s Italian Brass Pear Form Lidded Table Box on Leaf Base A bold and playful 1970s Italian sculptural box in the form of a stylized pear, crafted in polished brass and resting on...

A good antique sterling silver combination snuff & vesta case, by the silversmith Francis Clark (1799-1853), Birmingham, dated 1846. An unusual combination snuff & silver vesta case,...

Jewelry box completely handmade in gold-plated sterling silver and brown fire enamel in the shape of a trunk. The shape is rectangular with a convex hinged lid. The frame of the jewe...

A captivating piece of Florentine craftsmanship, this shaped pillbox is crafted from gilded 925/1000 silver. It features a meticulously hand-painted miniature in the refined Louis XV...

Snuff Box Snuff Box Venetian landscape is in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated 24 carats.. Snuff Box Snuff Box Venetian landscape has translucent fired enamel on guilloche and min...

Rare Form with Chinoiserie Figures From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to introduce to the market this rare example Russian Silver Chinoiserie Tea Caddy. The Tea Caddy ...

One of a kind Memories box to save your most loved and precious life's photos. A precious gift, the casket is in silver 925 gold-plated with Lapislazzuli . Entirely engraved by ha...

Turned, engraved and openwork box Fruit wood Florence, 17th century Measures: Diameter 11cm Height 4.4cm.  

Amethyst crystal box with cut engravings and golden patinated bronze. Each object is handcrafted and the care for every detail makes each item unique in its kind. The style of this ...

Shaped snuff box in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with fire-enameled stripes and fine oval enameled miniature in center cm. 3 x 4 hand-painted by ...

Round snuff box in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamels on guillochè and hand-painted floral miniature, surrounded by a frame with leaves on a blue bac...

Rectangular sterling silver cigar box. The box has sharp corners, with a hinged top opening. The cigar box is completely smooth. On the front there are engravings stating, "Antico To...

Square snuff box with two slightly domed sides in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamel on guillochè and hand-painted miniature of flower bouquet, late 1...

Lined in Royal Blue Padded Velvet From our Boxes collection, we are pleased to offer this Art Deco Macassar Ebony Box. The box of slim rectangular form with an inset scene featuring...

Purse cigarette case, oval section in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with two-color enameled stripes. Early 20th century English style. Measures 9 x 4.3 x 2.6 cm. Weight 96 g. ...

Clear crystal box with opaque cut engravings embellished with brass detail made with the artisan lost wax technique with patinated gold finish. Each object is handcrafted and the car...

Square table box for cigarettes in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamel on guilloché also on the sides. In the center beautiful miniature hand painted i...

Hand carved clear crystal and patinated golden bronze clinex-holder. Each object is handcrafted and the care for every detail makes each item unique in its kind. The style of this Kl...