Inlay Boxes

Beautiful MCM small brass mosaic lidded box in the style of Los Castillo, circa 1960s. This decorative trinket box is in good vintage condition with a great patina and measures 3.125...

This jewelry box will be a refined statement on any modern or traditional vanity. Lined with beige Alcantara, it features a ring holder, an open compartment, and two watch holders. E...

With Conch Shell Inlay From our Tea Caddy Collection, we are pleased to offer this superb Georgian Satinwood Tea Caddy. The Tea Caddy of rectangula...

Vesta matches box designed by Napoleon Linder. Very rare hinged box, created in Paris France at the silversmith atelier of Napoleon Linder. This is a vesta matches box crafted in ...

6 Watch box in Scottish elm, with a hand cut parquetry lid in ripple maple and walnut in a basket weave pattern inspired by guilloche watch dials....

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...

A cribbage board made from brass and steel with intricate inlayed brass details. A felt-lined drawer on one end holds a deck of cards while the two drawers on the opposite end hold p...

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...

1950's Agra Indian Mother of Pearl and Black Marble Box with The Taj Mahal Inlays.Onyx Black Marble Box with Pietra Dura Intricate Mother of Pearl Inlay of the Taj Mahal.Fine Quality Mother of Pearl Inlaid Taj Mahal Box.Black marble trinket box with an inlaid image of the Taj Mahal in mother of pearl. This unusual piece has the details drawn on the mother of pearl in black ink, giving it the appearance of a micro mosaic. The surface catches the light and shows some iridescence at different angles.The Anglo Indian style box is lined with black velvet.A Very fine intricate work of Islamic Art.From Agra, India. Circa 1950's.Great gift to express your Love.DIMENSIONS: Height: 1.75 in.Width: 3.75 in.Depth: 2.75 in.About the Taj Mahal: The Taj Mahal is a world-renowned monument located in Agra, India. It is considered one of the most iconic examples of Mughal architecture and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here's some information about the Taj Mahal: 1) History: The Taj Mahal was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century as a mauseum for his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632 and was completed in 1653. 2) Architecture: The Taj Mahal combines elements of Islamic, Persian, Ottoman Turkish, and Indian architectural styles. It is primarily made of white marble, with intricate inlay work using semi-precious stones. The central structure is a large dome surrounded by four minarets at each corner. 3) Symbism: The Taj Mahal is often regarded as a symb of love. It was built as a testament to Emperor Shah Jahan's eternal love for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The gardens and reflecting po in front of the Taj Mahal add to its romantic ambiance. 4) Location: The Taj Mahal is situated on the right bank of the Yamuna River in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. Agra is located approximately 200 kilometers (125 miles) southeast of India's capital, New Delhi. 5) Visitors: The Taj Mahal attracts millions of visitors from around the world each year. It is open to the public, except on Fridays when it is reserved for Islamic prayers...

A fine Japanese Meiji period box in the Komai style. The box of deep rectangular shape with hinged lid worked beautifully with gold and silve...

A handsome little fitted box with a removable tray and storage underneath.

An English rectangular box featuring an inlaid design of miscellaneous woods known to collectors as Tunbridgeware. Exterior with a geometric pattern design of herringbone to the t...

Early 19th Century walnut commode, the inlaid top with cookie corners over turned and fluted legs flanking three inlaid drawers and standing on turned turnip feet, French or Italian ...

Vintage Moorish Mughal Raj jewelry box inlaid with semi-precious agate stones and covered with silvered metal filigree. Moorish Middle East jewelry...

A fine and elegant Korean black lacquer and abalone mother of pearl inlay "longevity" box, circa 1930s, Korea. The box, most likely used to sto...

An early 20th Century French marquetry box made of solid cherry with decorative inlay of yew wood. Interior has a lift out tray with divided compa...

A very cool midcentury mosaic and wood lidded box, circa 1960s. The piece is in very good vintage condition with some wear and patina. #1444.

Russian snuff box designed by Ivan Sergeyevich Lebedkin. Beautiful snuff box, created in Moscow Russia, at the workshop of Ivan Sergeyevich Lebedk...

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

From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to offer this Antique Burr Yew Tea Caddy. The Tea Caddy of rectangular shape is beautifully finished in veneered Burr Yew wood, edged ...

Handcrafted marquetry Middle Eastern Moorish wood inlay micro mosaic with miniature hand painted scene of birds. Handcrafted khatam wooden box ...

Incredible workmanship and amazingly intricate, antique Napoleon II box, mid 1800s When it comes to collectible and high value boxes, this little, fit-for-a-king gem from the 1850s is right up there with the rarest and most beautiful we ever saw. We know it should not be THE reason why you would purchase something of this quality and beauty, but with ever fewer craftsman being able to create anything remotely great, the value of this type of antique can...

Unusual Antique Victorian quality rosewood inlaid writing box with two lift up tops opening to reveal a writing surface with original ink bottles an...

English Georgian Chinroserie bow front tortoise shell tea caddy with a hinged tiered lid, Chinese landscape mother of pearl inlays with flanking pagodas, fences, & foliage trees, central paktong plaque and escutcheon, bone fitted interior border with two lidded tortoiseshell foil lined compartments, and resting on the original four bone ball...

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 ...

Inlaid Marquetry Moorish Jewelry octagonal Box hand-crafted in Spain. Hispano Mauresque exquisite handcrafted vintage Middle Eastern style mosaic marqu...

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...

Early 19th Century Karl Johan Box with Inlay Ribbon Decorations in Fruitwood, Sweden. Key not included

Beautiful antique writing box from the historicism / Victorian style from England, 2nd half of the 19th century. Walnut veneered inlaid with various colored woods. Can be opened ...

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...

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...

Stunning mosaic design, this intricate wood box is made from multiple micro pieces of wood with some possible bone inlays. Gorgeous craftsmanship. A true work of art. Would be a ...

Fine and rare pair Jugendstil / Art Nouveau / Secession / Arts & Crafts Erhard & Sohne trinket boxes / jewelry caskets with amazing inlaid wood veneer and patinated brass showing fruit baskets and floral leaf branch decoration, Germany circa 1900. The presented and chosen motifs reflect the spirit of the time, Jugendstil. The offered antique caskets come with their rare original keys, normally lost over the years, here the keys with pierce work Erhard & Sohne lion logo and additional E.S.. The original locking mechanism is working properly. They are each 10 cm / 3.94 inches wide, 4,5 cm / 1.77 inches tall and 7 cm / 2.76 inches deep and stay in very good to excellent original condition with a nice and warm patina, minor typical and characteristic wear consistent with age and use. The high-end antique Jugendstil boxes or caskets show superior craftsmanship and design elements by the renowned designers, Erhard & Sohne, established in 1844 in Germany. The famous German company was granted the world patent for the manufacture of brass inlay in 1904. We are proud to offer additionally a rare Jugendstil dragonfly bowl...

Mid-20th Century wooden box straight from the Art Déco period and made originally in Europe, in France. The technique used is marquetry with polychrome inlays of different woods like...

A very attractive Japanese wood table top jewelry or collector's chest with marquetry and lacquer decoration, Meiji period, circa 1900, Japan. Previously in the collection of Asbjorn Lunde (1927 - 2017). The chest is crafted in the form of a Chinese seal...

A fine quality and handsome George IV/Regency inlaid rosewood dressing box, with the original sterling silver and glass fitted contents, London, 1824. The box having a lift-up hinged lid, finely inlaid with brass and bone marquetry of floral garlands & swags, the front having twin locking doors with corresponding inlay. Both the top, base and door panels have 'Dutch Ripple' molding and at each corner a hand-turned 'Barley Twist' column, both to the front and rear. The interior of the box also having inlaid satinwood stringing and three fitted compartments each with an etched crystal container...

There is type of English sweet called a Licorice Allsort. They are made in different layers and some have little balls covering them. The red lacquer and the little white pieces of e...

Vintage Spanish Granada Inlaid Marquetry Decorative Music Box Inlaid with White Bone. It is intricately designed with a sadeli Syrian style mosaic, s...

English desktop box with beautiful burl wood veneer, the top with an exquisite intricate mosaic inlay of various fruit woods. The sides with simpler inlaid fruit wood frames. An eleg...

A Pietra Dura brass box. Beautiful antique little box, created probably in Napoles, Italy as a treasure chest, circa 1880s. It was crafted in solid gilded brass with nice Baroque ...

Music play box, around 1960s, made in Switzerland. Wood inlays. Plays " Love story " Music Hight when open: 19cm.

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...

DECORATIVE BOX 01 Inlay scheme: Weave Colour scheme: Ruta Available in individuals colors MATERIALS: MDF, painted rye straw, brass. DIMENSIONS (cm): 20?20x10,5. Packaging dimen...

Wonderful and rare 19th century Italian olive wood and various fruit woods and hard woods playing card case. Intricate inlaid designs of cards on front and back, a diamond border and...

Exquisite handcrafted Khatam wood box with micro mosaic marquetry design, an Ancient Persian technique of inlaying. Moorish style box features geometric inlays of wood and bone. Art...

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...

There is type of English sweet called a Licorice Allsort. They are made in different layers and some have little balls covering them. The red lacquer and the little white pieces of e...

A splendid piece of functional decor fit for a private office or studio, this pen case is distinguished by an exquisite handmade inlay work of a series of colorful rectangles of mode...

Alfred Louis Achille DAGUET (1875 - 1942) was a metalsmith active in Paris during the first part of the 20th century. His metalwork created prior to the outbreak of World War I, note...

Turquoise/ blue colored mosaic glass tesserae and brass lidded box handmade in Mexico by noted Mexican artist Salvador Teran, circa 1950s. Featuring Aztec-inspired brass symbols on the lid and sides. This colorful box...

Huge wonderfully decorated wooden box, an original of the Jugendstil era, made in Austria. This casket is an impressive example of the craftsmanship of the period around 1900. Only ...

An early 19th century French marquetry commode de maitrise, or miniature sample commode. Made veneer of mahogany with pine and beech as a secondary w...

A finely crafted antique wood marquetry box with hinged lid and green fabric interior. This box has a refined geometric design featuring bot...

Dovedale — has designed two different humidors, a smaller humidor carrying fifty cigars and a more substantial to take a hundred cigars. Both are lined with Spanish cedar to keep the...

A splendid piece of functional decor fit for a private office or studio, this pen case is distinguished by an exquisite handmade inlay work of a series of colorful rectangles of mode...

Handcrafted marquetry Moorish wood inlay micro mosaic with miniature hand painted scene. Handcrafted khatam wooden box with very delicate micro mosaic marquetry from the ancient Pers...

This jewelry box will be a refined statement on any modern or traditional vanity. Lined with beige Alcantara, it features a ring holder, an open compartment, and two watch holders. E...

Exceptional desk box designed by Fasano. A beautiful and one-of-a-kind piece, created in Torino Italy by the master esteemed jeweler, Genesio Fasano. This rare luxury desk box was carefully crafted in solid yellow gold of 18 karats and is completely embellished with inlaid of rare blue hawk's eye. Weight: 1,534.83 Grams, (983.53 Dwt). Measurements: 175 mm by 175 mm by 37.5 mm (7.10 x 7.10 x 1.5 inches). Hallmarks: Stamped with the maker's mark, the Italian gold assay mark and signed ".750 *26AL FASANO" Note: This can be used for cigar humidor, letters or just as a decorative desk item...