Texas Decorative Boxes

19th Century Pair of French Majolica Cabbage Tureen.

French Black Forest Carved Wood Box Circa 1900. Flowers & leaves. H / 4.5 inches. 7 by 4.8 inches.

A stylish antique Art Deco English tortoise shell and mother of pearl tessellated box with a hinged lid and brass interior, circa 1920. A fabulous accent piece for any room! Dimens...

A rare and exceptional Baroque period Flemish or Dutch red tortoiseshell, bone, horn, ebony, and rosewood lift-top chest with drawer, circa 1725, mounted on a later stand. 17th/18...

A 19th century French ebonized box with brass inlay, the lock signed Vervelle Faut. Vervelle was a famed French maker of boxes, caskets and cabinetry, renowned for their fine craftsm...

Late 20th Century Postmodern tessellated travertine and black marble box with brass inlay and brown cloth interior lining.

Portuguese Majolica Cabbage Tureen or Soup Tureen signed Sousa Barcelos Portugal Circa 1930. With a spoon.

A superb antique 19th century English coromandel and rosewood fitted travel vanity or dressing box, circa 1870. This fine box contains the original contents including silverplate lidded cut glass jars, sewing tools...

A rare and exceptional finely painted vintage Imperial Russian lacquerware box. Exquisitely hand-crafted in the Palekhsky District (Палех) of wes...

Very rare Small Majolica Brown Deer Tureen Caugant, circa 1950. Could be a prototype for the manufacture. Miniature tureen H / 3.2 inches.

Rare Majolica box with oysters and snail signed Hippolyte Boulenger Choisy Le Roi, circa 1880. Measures: Height / 8", length / 15" on 6.5".

Late 20th Century triangle tessellated travertine stone box featuring black marble and black cloth interior lining.

Austrian majolica gooseberries basket, circa 1920.

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...

Large French Black Forest wood box, circa 1900. 11.8 by 7.3 inches , H / 5.3 inches. Music instruments Jewel box.

German porcelain duckling with bow box, Circa 1930.

Incredible matching handcrafted Forget Me Not lided box with matching ash tray. This handcrafted set is in excellent condition and is comprised of fused glass with a pieced pattern ...

An incredible Swedish hand-painted chest, having hand-forged iron straps and fittings. Original key included.

A stylized late 20th Century tessellated travertine and green agate box with brass trim, hinges and wood lined.

Small Portuguese Majolica Cabbage Tureen Aires C. Leal Caldas da Rainha circa 1950.

Late 20th Century tessellated stone with red lining, featuring brass hinges, handles, and chain.

A lovely Swedish folk art footed trunk / box in Nordic pine with original blue paint from Hälsingland, Sweden, dated 1813. It has a domed top, hand painted initials and decorative fl...

Keep your jewelry and important documents locked up in this elegant, antique safe from the Champagne-Ardenne region of France. Crafted circa 1880, and built in cast iron, this heavy ...

Lovely little 19th century ring jar or pill box made of a thick wine colored ruby glass. It has a miniature of a Basilica on top, gilt metal mounts with beautiful filigree on the si...

Large Italian Decorative Embossed Leather Box. Offered is a shapely mid century Italian decorative leather box. This large scale leather box is a beautiful shade of red/orange with g...

A fine English folding front chest or box of mahogany from the Edwardian era, featuring a hinged top over a fold-down panel, with brass handles on the sides in the Campaign style, at...

Small Majolica white rabbit pate tureen or box circa 1950 signed Caugant.

19th Century French Majolica Log Tobacco Jar.

Antique hand-painted and lacquered wooden box with removable tray, from Indonesia. The interior compartments are amply sized. There are some small...

A fine and impressive Japanese gold maki-e decorated black lacquer five-tier jubako with presentation tray, two lids, and the original tomobako storage box, Meiji period, late 19th c...

Small 19th Century Palissy Majolica Pumpkin Tureen.

Large vintage Italian Capodimonte Porcelain box. Stunning large vintage Italian Capodimonte porcelain box. This lovely...

French Majolica Rabbit Money Bank Circa 1900.

This beautifully executed antique wedding trunk was crafted in Normandy, France, circa 1780, and exemplifies the traditional coffre de mariage once given to brides to hold linens, pe...

A fascinating pair of Japanese porcelain kogo (incense containers), crouching rabbit figures, hand painted, polychrome decorated with mon inspired symbols. The top half lifts off to ...

More information coming soon… This small leather table coffret from France dates to the mid-1800s. The leather is affixed by numerous nailheads, with some arranged in geometrical p...

Presenting an absolutely stunning 19c Anglo Ceylonese sewing box of museum quality. Made in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) circa 1860, this is one of the finest sewing boxes of it’s kind that we have ever seen! The box is made from coromandel wood (an exotic hardwood found in Ceylon) and has a serpentine edging all over the front, back and sides. Very often the lids/tops of these boxes suffer cracks due to shrinkage but this one is near perfect with no crack in the lid/top. There is some evidence of natural shrinkage but that is around the edges of the lid/top. It is when you open this box that it reveals it’s true beauty, quality and treasure ! The inside of the lid/top is heavily and beautifully decorated with inlaid bone in scrolling floral patterns which have then been hand painted with red and black ‘lac’ ink. The central medallion is a circle of inlaid specimen exotic hardwoods radiating towards a central bone and hand painted flower. The circle is edged in bone, wood and silver chevrons. What makes this box Exceptionally rare is that it contains 3 lift out base sections. Normally, there would be a maximum of 2. The first tray/section is clearly for the purposes ancillary to sewing with a pair of sections with bone spools for thread etc. There are 17 other lidded compartments with each one highly decorated using hand painted bone and specimen woods to replicate tortoiseshell. The first tray lifts out to reveal a second removeable tray which is made up of a pair of open sections and 8 specimen wood lidded sections each with chevron banding. The third tray is a smaller tray underneath with 14 lidded compartments each with hand painted bone and specimen wood inlaid lids again, replicating the look of tortoiseshell. Again they are banded with a chevron border. This is a museum quality piece ! It is in fantastic condition for it’s age with the minor shrinkage to the edges of the lid/top, some finger pulls missing and some very minor cracks to the tray lids and bases but nothing that in any way detracts from the piece. No key. Dimensions: Closed the box is 16.75 inches wide, 11.25 inches deep and 7.5 inches high Fully open the box is 16.5 inches high, 16.75 inches wide and 11.4 inches deep Anglo-Indian and ceylonese boxes: 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. Anglo-Indian boxes normally consist of 3 main types:- (1) Most of the best and highest quality Anglo-Indian boxes in the 18th and 19th centuries were made in Vizagapatam, India, renowned for its exquisite craftsmanship in using ivory and tortoiseshell and lac decoration. These are referred to as ‘Vizagapatam Boxes...

Rare French Majolica Pineapple Basket Box Sarreguemines, circa 1890. Height / 6 inches , Diameter / 3.8 inches.

Small Majolica white rabbit pate tureen or box circa 1950 signed Caugant.

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...

A well painted Chinese Canton enamel lobed round box and cover featuring the Eight Immortals, with a Qianlong mark to the underside, late Qing Dynasty, circa 1900, China The deligh...

Antique Japanese Lacquered Box. Offered is a beautifully detailed Japanese lacquered box that dates to the 1920's. This decorative box is artful...

A fine antique 19th-Century British Colonial porcupine quill and ebony box, made in Ceylon the colonial name for Sri Lanka. This fine hand crafted box has a sliding lid and is decora...

Finest quality French 19th century bronze doré box. Beautiful scenes of cherubs at play on all sides. Boucher scenes. Lined with a beautiful silk original key.

Majolica grapes tureen Sarreguemines, circa 1930.

Majolica cottage Money Bank Box, Circa 1900.

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...

French Majolica cow tureen circa 1940 signed Caugant.

19th Majolica chestnut tureen signed Sarreguemines. rare Bag trompe L'oeil.

PRESENTING A LOVELY Wedgwood Jasperware Pale Blue Small Circular Lidded Vanity Box. Made by Wedgwood in England in 1982 and fully and properly marked/stamped on base. Marked: “Wedgwood, Made in England …. “PH” … “T” ….. “82”. 2.25 inches tall lidded vanity box with a diameter of 3.25 inches. Rolling vine and grape cameo reliefs, all over the lid and base sides. Fabulous large pointed finial on the lid with floral cameo reliefs on the sides. In very good original condition with no chips or cracks. A ‘PERFECT’ match for the larger and almost identical, lidded jasperware box...

19th Century Italian carved walnut document lion box.

PRESENTING A STUNNING 19C Irish Coromandel Wood Campaign Decanter Box. STUNNING mid-Victorian Decanter box from circa 1860-1880. Made in Dublin...

Exquisite 17th century Spanish Colonial tortoiseshell box, beautifully decorated with intricate silver piqué inlay in a repeating design across the surface. The craftsmanship is exce...

2 handmade boxes included. Rare 1800s Tramp Art Lion Door knocker Hand Carved Storage Box / Jewelry Box / Crimson Velvet with Brass Hardware With intricate and elaborate decoration, ...

A stunning vintage Moorish arabesque inlaid table box, 20th century, high quality rectangular box with hinged lid, featuring contrasting mother of pearl, exotic hardwood, and bone marquetry inlay arranged in geometric patterns, opening to red fabric lined interior. Dimensions: (approx) 3" High, 16.75" Wide, 6 1/8" Deep; 3.2lbs As warm and attractive as it is functional, having the ideal large size and proportions for a variety of different uses, including concealing a remote control on your coffee table or sofa table, or as a jewelry casket, trinket case...

A rare and exceptional Aesthetic Movement period Bohemian enameled jewel casket attributed to luxury glassmaker Moser. Hand-crafted in the late 19th cent...

A stunning antique Bohemian enameled art glass hinged lid jewelry casket - table box by renowned luxury glass maker Moser. Exquisitely hand-made in Bohemia (present day Czech Republic) in the late 19th century, artistic Art Nouveau period opulence, featuring very fine quality hand-blown polished...

Place this elegant, antique Napoleon III copper box in your master bath to keep your jewelry safe and organized. Crafted in France circa 1880, the ornate ...

Large Rare 19th Century French Majolica Flowers Box . 12 inches Lenght.

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...