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Technique: Hand-Crafted
Early 19th Century Anglo-Indian Brass Fish Box with Etched Decoration
Located in Middleburg, VA
A beautifully evocative early 19th-century Anglo-Indian brass box, crafted in India around 1820 for the English export market. Formed in the shape of ...
Category
Early 19th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass, Metal
Important and Rare Italian Box Safe from the 17th Century
1647
Located in Madrid, ES
Important and Rare Italian box safe from the 17th century
In chiseled bronze, decorated with jasper plates and hard stones, with a cameo with a male figure at the centre.
Inscriptio...
Category
17th Century Italian Baroque Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Bronze
Frederick Manson Victorian 1894 Birmingham Visiting Cards Case In .925 Sterling
Located in Miami, FL
Visiting card case box in sterling silver designed by Frederick Manson.
Beautiful antique presentation visiting card holder, created in the city of Birmingham England at the ateli...
Category
1890s English Late Victorian Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Silver, Sterling Silver
$559 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Alexandra Von Furstenberg Acrylic Treasure Box in Bronze - Large Storage Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Add a bold pop of modern glamour to your space with this acrylic treasure box by Alexandra Von Furstenberg, featuring a striking Bronze. Made from high-quality Lucite, this chic deco...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Acrylic, Lucite, Plexiglass
Dior Large Smoked "Frozen" Lucite Italian Decorative Jewelry Box, Italy 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful Mid-Century jewelry or decorative rectangular box, made in charming smoked brownish lucite with a "frozen effect." This elegant object was produced in Italy during the 1970...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Acrylic, Lucite, Plexiglass
18th Century or Earlier Brass - Iron Bound Continental Lockbox
Located in Lomita, CA
There is a fantastical quality to this casket lockbox with its dramatic presentation. It has brass rings with lions' (or wolves) heads and a latch/escutcheon. The size and complexity of the latch suggest that it was designed to keep prying hands away. But it has a very interesting look that many people will like. The style and appearance suggest Continental origins, and appraisers say it was produced in the 18th century or earlier.
The baroque casket...
Category
Early 18th Century European Baroque Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
$1,164 Sale Price
20% Off
Gothic Revival 1840 Carved Wood Huge Wine Cooler Planter Lion Hairy Paw Feet
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning very rare oversized Gothic Revival circa 1840 Victorian wine cooler or planter
A very nice decorative and well made piece, the Lio...
Category
1840s English Gothic Revival Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood
$3,333 Sale Price
30% Off
Sterling Silver Gold-Plated Pill Box with Buccioni Miniature, Louis XVI Style
Located in Firenze, FI
Octagonal pill box in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with a hand-painted miniature with fired enamel by the painter Romano Buccioni in Louis XVI style from the second half of ...
Category
1970s Italian Louis XVI Vintage Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
England 1780 Georgian Battersea Enamel Baroque Decorated Box in Gilded Bronze
Located in Miami, FL
Late 18th century Georgian Battersea enamel box.
A beautiful antique English Battersea Bilston table snuff box, created in the district of Bat...
Category
1780s English George III Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Bronze, Enamel
$2,388 Sale Price
20% Off
SiGNED VISCOUNT DAVID LINLEY ARCHITECTURAL PERSPECTIVE KEY SAFE WALL CABINET
By David Linley
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this very rare and highly collectable Viscount David Linley Architectural Perspective signed and stamped key...
Category
20th Century English Art Deco Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood
19th century campaign metamorphic camphor writing slope
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century metamorphic camphor writing slope circa 1890.
Here we have a fine quality campaign tambour table top desk made in camphor wood.
Many features to this brass bound desk....
Category
Late 19th Century British Indian Ocean Territory Campaign Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
Mid-19th Century French Oval Pigskin Leather Hat Box with Original Top Hat
Located in Dallas, TX
This exquisite, antique pigskin box was crafted in Rouen France, circa 1870. This leather box features leather straps and handle embellished with decorativ...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
Vintage Borghese Italian Hellenic Motif Ceramic Box
By Borghese
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful vintage plaster ceramic box made in Italy. Incredibly sculpted piece in a neoclassical style, the piece features hellenic images of priestesses and noblemen in gilt . The ...
Category
1970s Italian Hollywood Regency Vintage Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Ceramic
Vintage Waterford Lismore Crystal Box with Lid
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
The crystal box with lid features elongated oval form and cut Lismore pattern decoration. The box is in very good vintage condition; it is signed in etching on the side near the bott...
Category
20th Century Irish Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Crystal
A Very Good 19th Century Killarney Ware Dresser Box, Ireland Circa 1870
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A very handsome 19th century dresser box hand constructed in Arbutus wood. (Arbutus wood is an indigenous wood specific to the southwestern region of Ireland).
The hinged lid featuri...
Category
Late 19th Century Irish Victorian Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Other, Brass
Antique Vizagapatam India Table Box Ebonized Wood
Bone Carvings
Located in Forney, TX
Vizagapatam box, India, 19th century.
This highly decorative and unusual Anglo-Indian table box features rustic workmanship that adds to the character and charm of this unique Sout...
Category
19th Century Indian Anglo Raj Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Bone, Wood
Alexandra Von Furstenberg Acrylic Treasure Box in Sapphire - Large Storage Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Add a bold pop of modern glamour to your space with this acrylic treasure box by Alexandra Von Furstenberg, featuring a striking Sapphire. Made from high-quality Lucite, this blue ch...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Acrylic, Lucite, Plexiglass
Vintage Italian Pietra Dura Marble Box
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Standout vintage Italian white marble box decorated on a classic pietra dura technique in elaborate floral designs with mother of pearl, marble and semi precious stones.
Category
20th Century Italian Rococo Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Multi-gemstone, Marble
Montagnani, Mid Century Brass
Burl Wood Veneer Box, Italy, Circa 1970
s
By Montagnani
Located in Chatham, ON
Montagnani (Manufacturer) - Rare Mid-Century Modern brass and burl wood veneer box - diagonal stained pattern to the top panel with blonde wood interior - brown Plexiglas to the inte...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Art Deco Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
$2,450 Sale Price
30% Off
Alexandra Von Furstenberg Acrylic Treasure Box in Zebra Print - Large Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Add a bold pop of modern glamour to your space with this acrylic treasure box by Alexandra Von Furstenberg, featuring a striking black and white Zebra Print. Made from high-quality L...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Acrylic, Lucite, Plexiglass
Round Glass Box with a Blue Straw Marquetry and Brass Lid by Ginger Brown
By Ginger Brown
Located in Bourguebus, FR
This round glass box has a lid covered of a nice blue straw marquetry, surrounded with brushed brass trims.
The radial design of the straw reminds the great Art deco period while t...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
Don Shoemaker Box
Located in Mexico City, MX
All original. Excellent condition.
Category
1970s Mexican Organic Modern Vintage Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood
$1,600
19th Century Graduated Stack of Paint Decorated Pantry Boxes
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th Century Graduated Stack of Paint Decorated Pantry Boxes, circa 1880, comprising five shaved splint bentwood pantry boxes with straight overlaps fastened via wooden pegs, in late...
Category
Late 19th Century American Country Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood
19th Century Rare Miniature Wooden Bible Box in Original Paint
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century most rare and unusual original painted miniature bible box with original painted surface and gilding. This early gem has original iron hi...
Category
19th Century American Country Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Iron
$956 Sale Price
20% Off
19th Century French Burl Elm Inlaid Jewelry Box with Drawer
Inside Mirror
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a coffee table or a shelf with this elegant antique box. Created in France circa 1880, the rectangular cabinet is decorated with an elegant floral inlaid star motif on the t...
Category
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Mercury Glass, Elm, Burl
Correspondence Box Napoleon III
Located in Madrid, ES
Correspondence box, Napoleon III period, composed on the top of two flaps. Their facades are embellished with Square and Rectangle Marquetry. In add...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood
19th Century French Gothic Polished Black and Silver Cast Iron Strongbox Safe
Located in Dallas, TX
Keep your jewelry or important documents locked up in this small antique safe from Northern France. Crafted, circa 1880, the 52 pound cast safe has a chic two-tone black and silver paint finish. The heavy...
Category
Late 19th Century French Gothic Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Iron
Coconut Rectangular Box
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Rectangular coconut box by Tobacco Company in Italy.
It's a beautiful elegant unusual box for jewels, playing cards, watches, writing pens etc.
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Other Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Coconut
GERMANY 1900 Orivit Jugendstil Covered Centerpiece In Gilded Bronze With Crystal
By Orivit
Located in Miami, FL
Jugendstil Covered Centerpiece designed by Orivit in Germany.
This is a beautiful and very decorative covered centerpiece created in Germany during the art-nouveau Jugendstil period...
Category
Early 1900s German Jugendstil Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Silver, Bronze
$1,400 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Very Rare 1867 Asprey
Co. Coromandel Dressing Table Box Sterling Silver Pearl
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this very rare 1867 sterling silver hallmarked Asprey 166 Bond Street London Coromandel wood vanity dressing table box
A very rare and high quality collectable piece, the box is solid Coromandel wood with brass edges, it’s a lovely dark timber with a similar grain to Rosewood. The suite inside is all sterling silver, fully hallmarked T.W for Thomas Whitehouse, the Queens head for Queen Victoria, the sideways facing Lion for Sterling silver, the Panther head for London and the date letter M for 1867
The box has Braham locks which were of such high quality Gillows of Lancaster an London used them on their finest furniture, at the back of the base section you have a hand engraved plaque which reads Asprey Maker 166 Bond Street London, in the middle of this plaque is a depression switch, if you press it a hidden drawer pops out of the bottom. The listing includes the original key
The mirror pulls forward to reveal a hidden document folio...
Category
1860s English Georgian Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver
Rare Mid-Century Artisan Copper Enamel Box and Lid by Capo Esmaltes
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Rare Mid Century Modern rectangular carved wooden box with a slightly curved lid in enameled copper with colorful abstract decor was hand-crafted by Capo Esmaltes in Spain in 1960s....
Category
Mid-20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Metal, Copper, Enamel
$420 Sale Price
20% Off
Vintage Gucci Green Natural Shagreen Stash Trinket Box Made In Italy 7 1/8"
By Gucci
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful decorative handcrafted Gucci natural pale green shagreen trinket/stash box dating from the 1970's to 1980's. The box is marked on the bottom by the maker and has a velvet s...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Shagreen Stingray
Fratelli Toso a millefiori murrine vase from Murano, ca. 1910
Located in Aachen, DE
A millefiori murrine vase by the Toso brothers, made on the island of Murano around 1910. The lovely colored and decorated Murrine were cut from glass canes, arranged on a plate, fus...
Category
1910s Italian Arts and Crafts Vintage Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Murrine
$779 Sale Price
20% Off
A large English early 20th century folk art shellwork box, circa 1930
Located in Central England, GB
This highly decorative box dates to the early 20th century and it is a rare folk art piece based around a Victorian pine box and later decorated with a bold well arranged collection of English shells which has been glued onto its four sides in graduated matching boarders with an interesting collective display of individual ones on the top.
This most interesting and eye catching box is in good condition. The shells show some age related patination. The pine box is raised onto plain square block feet. It is fitted with the original good strong brass hinges and a working Victorian brass lock and key...
Category
Mid-20th Century British Early Victorian Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Shell
French Silver Plate Jewelry Vanity Pill Trinket Box
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Small jewelry or vanity box as found in French market. This 19th Century pill box has a silver plated lid and features a ribbon band decoration. Wonderful patina and certainly will c...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Metal, Silver Plate
Hermes Paris box in 950 sterling silver, French
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Elegant French Art Deco silver box by Hermès Paris, featuring a refined geometric engine-turned pattern on the lid and a raised “H” monogram characteristic of the house. The piece re...
Category
20th Century French Art Deco Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver
Coco De Mer Tea Caddy
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Unusual coco de mer tea caddy crafted with a double lobe nut found on the Seychelles Islands, it is said to have mystical properties. Featuring malachite f...
Category
Early 20th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Coconut
$9,900
Pillbox hand painted greyhound dog head on white background Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Oval pill box in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with a fired enamelled miniature hand painted by the painter Romano Buccioni of a greyhound dog head on a white background. Engl...
Category
1980s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Enamel, Sterling Silver
Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal Studio-Linie Black Porcelain Bird Pot
Located in Bishop
s Stortford, Hertfordshire
A finely made and stylish mid-century Rosenthal porcelain lidded jar decorated with birds amidst foliage designed by renowned Danish born artist Bjorn Wiinblad (1918-2006). The lidde...
Category
20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Porcelain
19th Century Anglo Indian Inlaid Mosaic Box With Drop Front and Drawers
Located in Stamford, CT
19th Century Anglo Indian fall front box with six drawers with metal pulls. The exterior and interior inlaid throughout with bone and various woods. Intricate geometric designs cover...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Bone, Fruitwood, Holly
Plizè Medium, Scandinavian Modern Design Box with Hanna Anonen
By Hanna Anonen
Located in Halikko, Finland
The Plizé box - serrated surface balanced with a spherical knob is an eyecatcher like no other. Irresistible color combinations make this box a centerpiece of any space.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Finnish Scandinavian Modern Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Oak
Priora Box in glossy black lacquer with detail in Corno Italiano, Mod. 2411
Located in Recanati, Macerata
The Priora box exudes refined aesthetic and meticulous attention to detail, making it the ultimate accessory to store your personal belongings. Crafted from glossy black lacquered wo...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood
Swedish 19th Century Bentwood Travel Box or Chest
Located in Buisson, FR
Rare Swedish travel box with stunning patina and hand forged iron details.
Sweden, circa 1800-1850. Weathered
H:21cm W:37cm D:29cm
Category
19th Century Swedish Folk Art Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood
$1,039 Sale Price
44% Off
Italian Contemporary "Black and Wild" Butterfly Alabaster Box - 1 of 2
Located in Scandicci, Florence
Elegant alabaster box printed with decal portraying an exotic natural setting with a beautiful Butterfly, "Le P. Machaon" finished with lacquer. The de...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Alabaster
Small Square Brass Box With Angel Insignia, America Early 20th Century
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Small Square Brass Box With Angel Insignia, America Early 20th Century. This Empire style box makes a wonderful addition to a collection of these classic brass boxes. This box is ve...
Category
Early 20th Century American Empire Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
Swedish 18th Century Bentwood Travel Box or Chest
Located in Buisson, FR
Rare and very beautiful Swedish travel box with stunning patina and hand forged iron details. Working lock and key ( bronze key from the 19th century).
Sweden, circa 1750-1800. Weath...
Category
18th Century Swedish Folk Art Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Iron
$1,395 Sale Price
47% Off
Royal Crown Stamped Victorian Oak Games Compendium Chess Cards Dominos Checkers
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this original Victorian games compendium with a complete suite of games, the case is stamped to the front...
Category
19th Century English Victorian Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Oak
Late 19th Century Walnut and Hand Forged Iron Storage Box
Located in Burton, TX
This unique Late 19th Century Storage Box was handcrafted from old growth walnut and hand forged iron in the late 1800's. The piece features iron bound edges, two side handles, one f...
Category
Late 19th Century North American Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Iron
Persian Micro Mosaic Box
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Handcrafted micro mosaic box inlaid in geometric design.
This Middle Eastern Persian inlay boxes were used to store cigarettes, or playing cards.
Mu...
Category
1940s Vintage Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Fruitwood
19th Century Georgian Sewing Box
Located in Pymble, NSW
A good shaped sewing box of tooled leather with finely cast brass fittings. Stands on lion's paw feet. The leather is a deep burgundy colour with some minor chipping to corners. The interior is fitted with compartments in blue paper and blue silk, the lids have mother of pearl knobs...
Category
1810s British George III Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Leather, Wood
Stunning Burr Walnut Victorian Sewing Table Heavily Carved All-Over Velvet Lined
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning heavily carved Victorian walnut sewing table
A very good looking and decorative piece...
Category
19th Century English Victorian Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Velvet, Walnut
19th Century Chinoiserie Sewing Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great condition for its age. No major losses or damage. Has original sewing pieces inside.
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Bone, Wood, Lacquer, Paint
Snuffbox Vessel Miniature Hand-Painted Sterling Silver Enamel Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
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...
Category
1970s Italian Baroque Vintage Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Very Decorative Vizagapatam Box INDIA 19th Century
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
VERY DECORATIVE VIZAGAPATAM BOX
Vizagapatam, India, 19th Century.
Rustic workmanship will only add to the decorative appeal of this Anglo-Indian footed domed casket in ebonized woo...
Category
19th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Bone
Pill Box Sterling Silver Art Nouveau with floral miniature Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Gold-Plated Sterling Silver and Enamel Pill Box with Floral Miniature by Romano Buccioni for Salimbeni, Florence, 1980
Charming shaped pill box in 925/1000 sterling silver, gold pla...
Category
1980s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Boiled Leather Trunk, Spanish, 17th Century
Located in Bruxelles, BE
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...
Category
17th Century Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Iron
$12,827 Sale Price
40% Off
Pair of Danish Art Deco Hammered Brass Boxes, circa 1920
Located in Valby, 84
Rare pair of Danish Art Deco lidded boxes, executed in hand-hammered brass with elegant fluted (cannelé) decoration. Each box presents a unique sculptural variation — one with a broa...
Category
1920s Danish Art Deco Vintage Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
19th Century English Wedgewood Retailed Burl Walnut Tea Caddy
By Wedgwood
Co
Located in Forney, TX
A stunning, fine quality English Victorian brass-mounted walnut tea caddy, retailed by Wedgwood & Sons, 9 Cornhill, London.
Exquisitely hand-crafted in the mid-19th century, rectangular chest form finished in rich burled walnut, having a shaped hinged lid featuring an inset Wedgwood Jasperware plaque of Cupid riding a lion. Locking, retaining the original key, the top opening to reveal an interior fitted with two lidded compartments, one lid marked B (black tea...
Category
19th Century English Victorian Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
Japanese Maki-e Lacquered Box, Ric.049
Located in Norton, MA
Japan, Edo to Meiji period, a long rectangular document box with hinged cover, decorated with a bird and a floral basket,
The locker is not functioning.
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Lacquer
PERFUME BOX WITH LID French Napoleon III 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
PERFUME BOX WITH LID
French Napoleon III 19th Century
in ebonised wood, tortoiseshell and gilded metal.
Interior with three golden glass bottles.
Defects of age
Dim.: (box) 11 x 1...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Hand-Crafted Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood
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