Chaumet L Arcade Blue Cat’s Eye Quartz Box with Gilded Silver Pheasant Inlay

A fine Korean iron box that was traditionally used to store tobacco leaves dated to the late Joseon Dynasty circa 19th century. The box is made from iron and has a heavy weight, although the wears along the edges of the lid and base exposes a bronze metal color underneath, indicating the iron metal may contains a high level of copper. The surface was beautifully decorated with elaborate silver inlay that covers the entire surface except the base. The extraordinary workmanship depicts a pair of deer within the circled square (shape of heaven and earth) and a lined background on the long sides and a crane with spread wings on the shorter sides. Both animals were associated with longevity. Their eyes were highlighted with copper inlay, adding a lively touch to the animation. The lid is centered with a Chinese character "Xi" (Paired-Hui in Korean), which means double happiness. (In Chinese culture, it is often used in a wedding ceremony). The large symbol was set on geometrical background of tightly scrolling diamond pattern surrounded by stylized Ruyi mushroom heads, another floral longevity symbol. Archaic fret cloud band borders the entire perimeters of the lid and the container. Tobacco was introduced to Korean in the first half of the 17th century and gradually gained popularity. When the tobacco was started being smoked in shredded form instead of rolled leaves, there rose the production of the smoking accessories, with some in fine quality as luxury items for the elite. The accoutrement such as this box is a fine example made in late Joseon dynasty, using extensive silver inlay, a technique called "jjoeum-ipsa", in which the silver wires were hammered into the scorched iron surface to create the elaborate design. Similar boxes with variation of shape and motifs are in the collection of several major museums. Compare the box with item Gu 754 in the National Museum of Korea; item 22.78 in MET NYC and M.240:1, 2-1926 in V& A Museum in London. The most closely related example we found is item C232 in the collection of the Museum of East Asian Art...

A magnificent, fine and impressive, large pair of antique English import cast sterling silver pheasant sugar boxes; part of our diverse ornamental silverware collection These magnificent, fine and impressive antique cast sterling silver sugar boxes have been realistically modelled in form of a pair of pheasants*. The cock and hen pheasant have been embellished with impressive decoration reproducing the details of each bird's plumage and anatomical features. These exceptional antique silver boxes are fitted with the original push fit heads/covers. Such hallmarked examples of this size with detachable covers are becoming increasingly difficult to locate. These magnificent large silver pheasants...

A fine Korean iron box with intricate silver inlay dated to the late Joseon Dynasty circa 19th century. The body of the box is made from iron of a heavy weight although the wear on t...

Description: Snuff box in gilt silver with frieze surrounding the figure of an ancient Lady on blue enamel and guilloche pattern all around. Metal: Silver. Origin: French - remarked ...

A rare decorative (cigarette) box in isolite (early plastic material) and decor of ship in silver inlay. Made by silversmith Wilhelmina Wendt, Perstorp, dated 1954 (D9). Swedish Art...

1960s, Sweden. This elegant rosewood box features a sterling silver inlay and is marked “925S Hans Hansen Sterling Denmark” on the bottom.

Description: Gilded silver cigarette case with inlaid hard stone, engraving on the casing and hinged lid. Metal: Silver. Origin: Portuguese. Brand: Cabeça de escravo I Title. Weight:...

Description: Jewelry box, in gilded silver with floral reliefs, angel figure in the center in a circular shape. Metal: Silver. Origin: Portuguese. Mark: standing eagle. Weight: 317.6...

Description: Silver-gilt snuff box with raised patterns and hinged lid. Metal: Silver. Origin: European. Mark: Unreadable. Weight: 68.57 grams. Dimensions: 8.6cmx2.1cm. Content: 750/...

Description: Pill box in gilded guilloche silver with a monogram card on the removable lid. Metal: Silver. Origin: French. Brand: Tête de Minerve. Weight: 71.61 grams. Dimensions: 6....