Inlay Boxes

Pretty antique Victorian tunbridge ware inlaid trinket box having a pretty antique Victorian trinket box with a lift up lid opening to reveal a l...

Circa 1820 late Georgian period inlaid tea caddy, English. Mahogany with satinwood & dyed sycamore inlaid shells - artfully scorched & shaded in the large shells for depth. Floating ...

PRESENTING A LOVELY 19th century Anglo-Indian Carved Teak Wood and Sadeli Mosaic Box, featuring a carving of a Hunt Scene. Made circa 1870 in Bombay, India during the Rule of the Br...

Large antique Tunbridge Ware box with wide band geometric inlaid banding across top and front. The lid and escutcheon with a rectangular i...

With a Secret Compartment From our Writing Box collection, we are pleased to offer this Victorian Mahogany Writing Box Attributed to Hausburg. The Writing Box of rectangular shape m...

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...

Beautiful Nicole Frères Music Box, Geneva, circa 1860 This outstanding music box was crafted around 1860 by Nicole Frères, the most renowned and sought-after maker of fine music box...

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...

Maitland Smith 1980s large tessellated stone and brass inlay decorative box. Light pink stone with light pink detailing. Brass banding retains unpolished patina.

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

The small rectangular silver snuff box, chased with foliage decorations and featuring a hinged back, is set with a detailed micromosaic plaque on top. The plaque depicts a rural land...

Fine antique Anglo-Indian hand carved wooden jewelry box inlaid. Nice Indian Mughal pen box handcrafted in very fine Sadeli micro mosaic...

Antique box for jewels or treasures, hand inlaid with straw threads, built by prisoners of the time as work for integration and financing, built in Italy, 19th century. Depicting lan...

South American Chilean Mesquite decorative box or cigar box with hinged Mexican Primavera lid. Box bottom and sides are handmade from a single slab of Chilean Mesquite and expertly matched to highlight the distinctive figure and grain lines. Mexican Primavera's natural texture is preserved and locked with hand-cut Chilean Mesquite butterfly inlays. The lid is also exquisitely finished with a solid brass butterfly inlay, which also serves as a handle to lift and lower the lid. Finished with custom-blended Michael Madley Naked oil...

PRESENTING an ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS and EXTREMELY UNIQUE and RARE 19C British Tunbridgeware Micromosaic Lap Desk. This lap desk is unlike any of it’s kind we have seen before. From c...

This is a marvelous travel box. The inlay is stunning.

Refined and sensual small accessories for the desk or vanity have been loved and enjoyed by collectors or aesthetes for many centuries. Examples of beautiful, delicate workmanship ca...

An elegant Korean black lacquer and mother of pearl inlay stationery box with lion and peony, circa 1930's, Korea. The rectangular box and cover ...

1940s Marquetry Mosaic Wood Box Moorish Islamic Art Granada Spain Khatam Decor. Moorish Inlaid Marquetry Jewelry Box Spain. Dimensions Height: 2.5 in. ...

In our workshop we apply eggshell lacquer to many things mostly using the inside of the eggshell. The mosaic pattern is achieved with a cracking motion using the ends of pointed tool...

19th century victorian burr walnut desk top writing slope circa 1870. Fine quality english made victorian writing slope.  Exterior of rich burr walnut with tunbridge ware inlay deco...

Exquisite handcrafted Middle Eastern Lebanese mosaic marquetry wood box. Small octagonal walnut Syrian style box intricately decorated with Moorish...

Regency Sarcophagus Shaped Box with Fan Inlaid Front, a Fitted Interior and Mirrored Lid, c1810. The top has an oval inlaid burl insert. The interior fitted with lift out, divided tr...

Boîte en marqueterie de paille du XIXe siècle Bon état

Music box on matching table – 6 cylinders with 6 melodies each Beautiful Swiss music box, crafted in the late 19th century, presented on its original matching table. The set includes...

A beautiful tea caddy with original key and original interior it is black lacquer, mother of pearl and has a brass inlay design all over the box. 19th century, France.

Folk Art Marquetry Box or Chest with Inlaid Star, French 19th Century Beautiful decorative wooden box or small chest. Folk Art from the 1890s, it features an inlaid star motif on t...

Vintage Middle Eastern Moorish wooden jewelry box inlaid with marquetry. Middle Eastern box handcrafted in very fine Moorish micro mosaic diamonds,...

This fabulous octagonal box carved from Makrana marble. Once used for the Taj Mahal, it is known to be the most dense marble in the world. Inlaid Abalon...

A fine Indo-Portuguese inlaid teak wood figure of Nagini India, Goa, 17th century Measure: H. 55 cm (with stand, and with ring for wall hanging) The sculpture can be perceived as such but probably is one of four legs of an Indo-Portuguese contador...

English bird's eye maple lap desk , the entire desk with beautiful color and patina, the top has a shield medallion in the center; the front key hole is inlaid with an interesting di...

Brass Strapped Exterior From our Jewellery Box collection, we are pleased to offer this Antique Victorian Jewellery Box. The Jewellery...

A Tunbridge Ware Games Box with Inlaid Marquetry Image of Eridge Castle, c1870 Additional Information: Heading: Tunbridge Ware - A Games Box with Inlaid Marquetry Image of Eridge Ca...

This large impressive cabinet featuring a crossbanded walnut and Kingwood and inlaid with satinwood stringing line alternating with Ebony wood inlays. Clean and distilling angelic m...

A fine quality Regency Era / Georgian Period tea caddy set in sumptuous plum-pudding mahogany. Exquisitely hand-crafted in England at the turn of the late 18th / early 19th century,...

Beautifully decorated mid-late 19th c, England, black lacquered papier-mâché sewing stand. Decorated with gilt, mother-of-pearl and polychrome paint, opening to cloth-lined interior....

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

An important Japanese lacquer box with a view of The 'Nieuwe Stadsherberg Van Amsterdam Nagasaki, Edo-period, 1830-1840 The black lacquered wood box, decorated in gold and inla...

Exquisite handcrafted Middle Eastern Lebanese mosaic marquetry wood box. Small vintage walnut Syrian style box intricately decorated with Moorish m...

Large exquisite handcrafted Middle Eastern Egyptian mosaic marquetry sadeli inlaid wood jewelry box. Dome chest intricately decorated with Moorish motif des...

This exquisite Papier Mâché box, circa 1870s, has a black lacquered finish with mother of pearl inlays, gold leaf hand-painted floral motifs and embellished decoration. The Engli...

English 19th Century Small on Box on Stand With Inlaid Mother-Of-Pearl. This is an antique English walnut dressing or vanity box, dating to the 19th century. The box features a beaut...

A fine 18th century satinwood and yew tea caddy, the oval burr panels figuring on all sides with boxwood banding and bone knob to the lid. Wonderful patination and remnants of silver...

Burr Yew Inlaid Tea Caddy Circa 1780 From our Tea Caddies collection, we are thrilled to offer this square Georgian Burr Yew wood inlaid Tea Caddy. The Caddy of square form with c...

Great craftsmanship with a great Patina from the early 1900s inlaid with Wood and other woodtypes. If you are looking for a stylish and truly decorative box to grace your table or d...

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...

Austro-Hungarian empire mechanical vesta tinder case made by Karl Rössler Beautiful antique fusee vesta tinder case, created in Vienna Austria around the...

Antique silver mounted hardstone snuff box with micromosaic view of St. Peter's Cathedral, Rome. Italy, early 19th century. Dimension: 2.4" W x 1.2" D x .75" H.

This exquisitely inlaid and gold leafed Papier Mâché Dust Pan circa 1870s, has a black lacquered finish with mother of pearl inlays, gold leaf hand-painted floral design and riparia...

Water flowing over rocks creates a contrast between the sparkle of the water and the relative opacity of the rocks. In these boxes black lacquer pours over natural shells that glow a...

Book Matched Veneer From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to offer this impressive inlaid Antique Mahogany Tea Chest. The Tea Chest of rectangular shape beautifully veneer...

A '70 modern red lacquer or high-gloss 'demi-lune' box with inlayed brass swan bird design, circa 1970s. A chic decorative box for jewelry (as demonstrated)...

Brulé means 'burnt' in French. Raw and delicate, the Brulé boxes evoke the idea of baked earth or ashes. There is a powerful energy in the details of decisio...

Marqueterie de paille, boîte en bon état du XIXe siècle

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...

Antique George III quality mahogany inlaid post box having a serpentine shaped front lift up lid with a satinwood inlaid shell to the centre opening to reveal compartments for letter...

Circa 1870 "Trinity House" sewing work box, English. Walnut inlaid with exotic woods. From 1850-1880 the men who manned the lighthouses were known for crafting these boxes to while a...

This stunning 18th-century Italian box is a fine example of Baroque artistry, embodying the period's characteristic grandeur and attention to detail. Crafted from rich walnut, the bo...