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Technique: Inlay
Antique Flemish Dutch Antwerp Red Tortoiseshell Box Cabinet Chest On Stand
Located in Forney, TX
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...
Category
Early 18th Century Dutch Baroque Antique Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Bone, Tortoise Shell, Rosewood, Horn, Wood, Ebony
19th Century Napoleon III Vervelle Ebonized Box with Brass Inlay
Located in Pearland, TX
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...
Category
19th Century French Antique Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Metal, Brass
19th Century Oak and Fruitwood Intarsia Jewelry Box
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A 19th Century Biedermeier Swedish Jewelry box in oak with an ornamental inlay decoration. The fine intarsia work, featuring a floral pattern, is...
Category
1840s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood, Oak, Paper, Fruitwood
Antique French Napoleon III Boulle Marquetry Brass Tortoiseshell Keepsake Box 13
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique 19th century Napoleon III era French Marquetry Boulle box. Red and black tortoiseshell with foliate brass inlay. Decoration on top includes the monogram LS. Rectangular form ...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
$1,750 Sale Price
30% Off
19th Century English Regency Mahogany Box With Satinwood Inlay
Located in Stamford, CT
English Regency mahogany box with satinwood inlay. The four corners of the top are inlaid with lovely triangular scalloped decoration. All the border molding are also satinwood inlay...
Category
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Mahogany, Satinwood
Antique Ceylonese Porcupine Quill Box
Located in London, GB
A small Sinhalese Porcupine Quill Box with a sliding lid.
The panels of porcupine quill panels arranged in a chevron pattern, bordered with ebony and bone inlaid banding.
Ceylonese ...
Category
Late 19th Century Sri Lankan Anglo-Indian Antique Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Ebony
Arts
Crafts Jewelry Box Casket by Erhard
Sohne, Vienna Secession w. Dome Top
By Erhard
Söhne
Located in Lisse, NL
Stunning and great condition, brass Secessionist box with amazing inlay and the original key.
There are -for good reasons- collectors of the Vienne...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
Shagreen Leopard Pattern Box with Shell and Brass Details by Kifu Paris
Located in New York, NY
The Paris based label has distinguished themselves since their launch, with their iconic use of shagreen mixed with brass and other exotic materials. All furniture is handcrafted by ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
19th Century Anglo-Indian Sadeli Inlaid Work Box Traveling Writing Desk
Located in Stamford, CT
An Anglo Indian bone, ebony and metal inlaid sadeli work box with portable writing desk, Bombay, circa 1850.
The sandalwood body of faceted recta...
Category
Mid-19th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Antique Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Metal
Vintage Jewelry Music Box Made in Italy by Reuge
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Elegant vintage footed wooden music box with top finely hand painted and inlaid with foliages floral decor.
Vintage Italian wooden music box with marquetry inlay featuring a lute and flowers.
Marquetry is the art of creating decorative designs using different materials, commonly thin pieces of wood.
Handcrafted Jewelry music box, made in Italy with lacquered finish, wood Inlay, red felt lined with hinged lid.
The music box has a Swiss Reuge music box...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Baroque Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Fruitwood
Architectural Model Box of the Alhambra Palace, with Key
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Architectural Model Box of the Alhambra Palace, with Key
Handcrafted in Granada, Spain, Circa 1960s
A stunning architectural model box that showcases the ...
Category
20th Century Spanish Moorish Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
$638 Sale Price
20% Off
Moroccan Moorish Middle Eastern Large Inlaid Wood Micro Mosaic Jewelry Box
Located in Studio City, CA
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 g...
Category
20th Century Moorish Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood
Stunning English Regency Sterling Silver
Tortoiseshell Card Case, Circa 1815
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Stunning English Regency Sterling Silver & Tortoiseshell Card Case, circa 1815
This exceptional English Regency card case, dating to the early 19th century (circa 1810–1825), exempl...
Category
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Metal, Sterling Silver
Exquisite Mother of Pearl Inlaid Lacquer Elephant Motif Tissue Box
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Exquisite mother of pearl inlaid lacquer elephant motif tissue box,
Intricately inlaid all over with numerous elephants in landscape. Fitted with a si...
Category
20th Century Anglo-Indian Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Silver Plate
$556 Sale Price
20% Off
Middle Eastern Moorish Jewelry Box
Located in Delray Beach, FL
exquisite middle Eastern Moorish Syrian inlay jewelry box. This box is intricately inlaid with Moorish motif designs which have been uniquely inlaid with bone, mother of pearl and f...
Category
20th Century Asian Islamic Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Mother-of-Pearl, Sandalwood
Inlaid Octagonal hardwood Box with Fitted Interior and Key, English Early 19th C
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a beautifully hand made oak Sewing Box, of octagonal form with inlaid sunburst top, fully fitted interior and having a working lock and key, all dating to circa 1840.
The bo...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Early Victorian Antique Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Hardwood
Japanese Lacquer Box with Mother-of-Pearl Inlay and Parquetry Drawers
Located in Yonkers, NY
A finely crafted Japanese tabletop cabinet from the early 20th century, this compact storage piece is richly detailed with traditional decorative techniques and export-era flourishes...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood
Music Play Box, Around 1960s, Made in Switzerland
Located in Wien, AT
Music play box, around 1960s, made in Switzerland.
Wood inlays.
Plays " Love story " Music
Hight when open: 19cm.
Category
1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood
Antique Victorian Coromandel and Mother of Pearl Writing Slope by Richard Wathew
By Richard Wathew
Located in Northampton, GB
Mother of Pearl Inlay
From our Writing Box collection, we are delighted to offer this Victorian Coromandel and Mother of Pearl Writing Slope by Richard Wathew. The Writing Box of sl...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Early Victorian Antique Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Leather, Shell, Wood
19th Century Victorian Jewelry Box
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
Beautiful antique Victorian jewelery box. The box is made of wood, covered with paper machee, lacquered black and inlaid with a mosaic of mother-of-pearl. Painted with gold colored decorations. The interior of the box is lined with blue silk fabric...
Category
1880s British Victorian Antique Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood, Paper
Middle Eastern Mosaic Wooden Inlaid Marquetry Box for Game Chess and Backgammon
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Middle Eastern Mosaic Wooden Inlaid Marquetry Box Game Backgammon and Chess.
Middle Eastern Micro Mosaic Wooden Inlaid Marquetry Box.
Large vintage Moorish Syrian style micro mosaic ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Lebanese Islamic Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Fruitwood
Jean Michel Frank Geometric Straw Marquetry Box, France circa 1930
Located in Atlanta, GA
This rare Art Deco straw marquetry lidded box is attributed to French designer Jean Michel Frank. The piece was expertly crafted in France circa 1930. The rectangular shape is stunni...
Category
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Straw, Wood
Antique Decorative Middle Eastern Islamic Box 1940s
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Antique 1940s Mosaic Shell Inlaid Decorative Middle Eastern Islamic Box.
Mosaic Luxury Decorative Middle Eastern Islamic Vanity Box.
Middle Eastern Asian Mosaic Wood Box with Inlays ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Lebanese Moorish Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Bone, Shell, Abalone, Fruitwood
Vintage Agate Inlaid Moorish Wedding Jewelry Dressing Box
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Large vintage Moorish wedding jewelry box inlaid with semi-precious agate stones and covered with brass and silvered metal filigree.
Large circular Moorish Middle East jewelry...
Category
20th Century Moroccan Moorish Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Metal, Brass
Urushi Lacquer Eggshell Round Brule Box, Medium by Alexander Lamont
Located in Khet Bang Sue, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon
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...
Category
2010s Thai Art Deco Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Eggshell, Lacquer
1950s Anglo Indian Micro Sadeli Mosaic Inlaid Jewelry Box
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
1950s Anglo Indian Micro Sadeli Mosaic Inlaid Jewelry Box.
DIMENSIONS: 7ʺW × 7ʺD × 2.5ʺH.
Indo Persian Moorish style micro mosaic inlaid jewelry box with lid.
Intricate inlaid Anglo ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Indian Moorish Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Bone, Fruitwood
Handwrought Mid-Century Modern Mexican Mosaic and Brass Box by Salvador Teran
Located in Los Angeles, CA
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...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
$480 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique English Large Tunbridge Box With Marquetry Inlay
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An antique English Tunbridge box with geometric inlay, hinged lid, red velvet interior, felted bottom and comes with working key. The box with a diamond form inlaid medallion flanked...
Category
19th Century English Victorian Antique Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Velvet, Wood
Middle Eastern Moorish Handcrafted Mosaic Decorative Box
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Exquisite handcrafted Middle Eastern mosaic marquetry inlaid walnut wood box.
Small box intricately decorated with Moorish motif designs which h...
Category
Mid-20th Century Lebanese Moorish Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Fruitwood, Shell, Mother-of-Pearl
Large Moorish Arabesque Inlaid Table Box
Located in Forney, TX
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...
Category
20th Century Moorish Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Bone, Mother-of-Pearl, Hardwood, Ebony, Rosewood, Tulipwood
Large French Art Deco Wooden Jewelry Box with Marquetry Inlay
Located in Miami, FL
A large and very good quality French Art Deco style jewelry box made of walnut with fruitwood inlay. Hand-crafted with an eye to details. Grea...
Category
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Fruitwood, Walnut
$1,260 Sale Price
30% Off
Moroccan Dowry Box Inlaid with White Camel Bone Rectangular Carved Wood Trunk
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Antique handcrafted Moroccan jewelry wooden box with camel bone inlay trunk.
A large early 20th century decorative Moroccan camel bone casket with bra...
Category
Early 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Metal
French Walnut Burr Campaign Writing Slope Brass Inlay 19th C
By Napoléon III
Located in Cheltenham, GB
An exceptionally fine quality example of an early 19th century burr wood campaign writing slope, in beautifully grained burl, with polished brass inlaid, of French origin. Opening to...
Category
Early 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
$925 Sale Price
38% Off
1901 Germany, Erhard
Söhne, Brass Inlaid Rosewood Twine Caddy with Scissors
By Erhard
Söhne
Located in Morristown, NJ
Circa 1901, Erhard & Söhne, Germany, a Jugendstil/Art Nouveau brass and rosewood string box, decorated in the round with children playing tug-of-war. The lid is beautifully decorated...
Category
Early 1900s German Art Nouveau Antique Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Metal, Brass
The Taj Mahal Black Marble Box with in Shell Inlaid Agra India 1950
s
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage 1950's Agra Indian Shell and Black Marble Box with The Taj Mahal Inlays.Onyx Black Marble Box with Pietra Dura Intricate Abalone Inlay of the Taj Mahal.Fine Quality Shell Inlaid Taj Mahal Box.Black marble trinket box with an inlaid image of the Taj Mahal. This unusual piece has the details drawn on the white shell 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.From a Private Estate Encino Collection.
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 mausoleum 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) Symbolism: The Taj Mahal is often regarded as a symbol of love. It was built as a testament to Emperor Shah Jahan's eternal love for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The gardens and reflecting pool 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...
Category
Mid-20th Century Indian Islamic Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Marble
Early 20th century Edwardian inlaid wine cooler
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Early 20th century Edwardian mahogany inlaid wine cooler, circa 1905.
Sheraton revival wine cooler cellarette. Top with oval stringing and inlaid ebony. Lid opens to reveal compartm...
Category
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Anglo-Indian Vizagapatam Jewelry Inlaid Sadeli Footed Box
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Antique 19th century Anglo-Indian jewelry, trinket footed box, inlay with ebony, mosaic marquetry Sadeli work and a carved Hindu scene on top.
The box case is made from sandalwood wi...
Category
Early 20th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Bone, Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
C. 1870 English "Trinity House" Sewing Work Box
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
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...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Walnut
Tunbridge Box Still Bank, circa 1870s
Located in Incline Village, NV
This Tunbridge box still bank is indigenous to the Tunbridge ware cottage industries of the town of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England in the 18th and 19th c...
Category
1870s English Victorian Antique Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood
$680 Sale Price
20% Off
1940s Antique Fine Micro Mosaic Moorish Inlaid Decorative Box
By Mamluke
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
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...
Category
20th Century Indian Moorish Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood
Beautiful Jewelry or Collecting Treasure Box Inlaid with Walnut, Burl Walnut
Located in Lisse, NL
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...
Category
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Bronze
Geometric Straw Marquetry Box attributed to Jean Michel Frank, circa 1930
Located in Atlanta, GA
Exuding timeless sophistication, this exquisite straw marquetry decorative lidded box is attributed to the legendary French designer Jean-Michel Frank (1895-1941). With its elongated...
Category
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Straw, Wood, Cork
Anglo Indian Micro Mosaic Inlay Jewelry Box
Located in New York, NY
Exquisitely crafted early 20th century Anglo Indian micro mosaic Sadeli box with gorgeous antique Persian geometric pattern.
The finely detailed box featu...
Category
Early 20th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Bone, Fruitwood
Spanish Colonial Era 18th/19th Century Inlaid Cedar Wooden Chest Box Trunk
Located in Forney, TX
A charming scarce Spanish Colonial era parquetry inlaid cedar legged storage chest (large table box / small trunk) with nicely aged warm rich dark patina. circa 1790
Rustic handmade...
Category
18th Century Spanish Colonial Antique Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Iron
Antique English Coromandel Writing Box by Fisher
Located in Northampton, GB
Harlequin Pop Up Secret Compartment
From our Writing Box collection, we are pleased to offer this Antique Coromandel and Satinwood lined Writing Box by Fisher. The Writing Box of re...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Early Victorian Antique Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
Antique Hand Forged Organic Design Arts
Crafts Multi Purpose Box, circa 1920
By Hugo Berger
Located in Lisse, NL
Unique and all handcrafted, wrought iron box attr. to Hugo Berger Goberg.
It is always refreshing to find an antique object probably by a famous maker, that you have never seen befo...
Category
Early 20th Century German Arts and Crafts Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Metal, Wrought Iron
A fine millefiori murrine handle vase from Murano, ca. 1910, Fratelli Toso
Located in Aachen, DE
A fine 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...
Category
1910s Italian Arts and Crafts Vintage Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Murrine
$713 Sale Price
20% Off
Chinese Round Black Lacquer Box with Mother of Pearl Inlay, likely 20th Century
Located in Cathedral City, CA
Chinese Round Black Lacquer Box with Mother of Pearl Inlay, likely 20th Century
Beautiful and useful 20th century. Chinese lacquer box of circular shape, the domed cover with flora...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood, Lacquer
Urushi Natural Red Lacquer Allsorts Box - Medium by Alexander Lamont
Located in Khet Bang Sue, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon
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...
Category
2010s Thai Art Deco Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Eggshell, Walnut, Lacquer
Set of 4 Pedestal Boxes in Shagreen, Shell and Bronze-Patina Brass by Kifu Paris
Located in New York, NY
The Paris based label has distinguished themselves since their launch, with their iconic use of shagreen mixed with brass and other exotic materials. All furniture is handcrafted by skilled artisans, ultimately making each piece unique, designed in Paris and produced in the Philippines.
The set of 4 pedestal boxes are the perfect home accents to add elegance and functionality to your space. These can be used as a vanity set for your bathroom, in your office to store desk...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
Fine Korean Box with Tray Iron with Silver Inlay Joseon Dynasty
Located in Atlanta, GA
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...
Category
19th Century Korean Other Antique Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Silver, Iron
Vintage Mexican Box with Stone Mosaic Copper Silver
Brass Details Taxco
By Los Castillos, Taxco
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
This exquisite vintage box from Mexico features a richly textured stone mosaic design on its surface, combining deep shades of blue and green. The geometric ornamentation is crafted ...
Category
1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Stone, Multi-gemstone, Metal, Brass, Silver, Copper
Vintage Mexican Brass Box with Mother of Pearl Inlay – Aztec Head Motif Taxco
By Los Castillos, Taxco
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
A striking mid-century modern brass trinket or cigarette box handcrafted in Mexico, featuring a stylized Aztec or Mayan head motif in cut brass, dramatically contrasted against a viv...
Category
1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Metal, Brass
Antique Rosewood Inlaid Writing Box by Hausburg
By F.L. Hausburg
Located in Northampton, GB
Heavily Inlaid with Mother of Pearl and Abalone
From our Writing Box collection, we are pleased to offer this stunning Antique Inlaid Writing Box by Hausburg. The Writing Box of rec...
Category
Mid-19th Century English High Victorian Antique Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Shell, Wood, Satinwood
Antique Southeast Asian Filipino Maranao Silver Inlaid Brass Betel Nut Box
Located in Forney, TX
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...
Category
19th Century Philippine Islamic Antique Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Silver, Brass, Bronze, Copper
Antique English Tunbridge Ware Sewing Box
Located in Northampton, GB
Fitted Tunbridge Ware Sewing Box Interior
From our Tunbridge Ware collection, we are delighted to offer this Tunbridge Ware Sewing Box. The Rosewood box of rectangular form extensiv...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Early Victorian Antique Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Wood
19th century inlaid Irish Killarney writing slope
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century inlaid Killarney ware writing slope circa 1870.
Beautiful Irish killarney region writing slope, beautifully inlaid with the various woods they used to craft with. Killa...
Category
Late 19th Century Irish Victorian Antique Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Yew
Anglo Indian Rectangular Porcupine Quill
Bone Box
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Anglo Indian rectangular porcupine quill, bone and parquetry box. The box with a hinged lid that opens to reveal embossed red velvet lining and a decorated wood panel...
Category
20th Century Sri Lankan Anglo-Indian Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Other
19C Anglo Ceylonese Sewing Box of Museum Quality
Located in Dallas, TX
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...
Category
Mid-19th Century Sri Lankan Anglo-Indian Antique Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Silver
Alfred Daguet, Paris, Art Nouveau Embossed Brass
Inlaid Glass Cabochons Box
Located in Lisse, NL
One of a kind and all hand-crafted, good size antique box by Alfred Daguet (1875-1942).
Alfred Daguet was a French craftsman/metalsmith, active around the early 1900s and who specia...
Category
Early 20th Century French Arts and Crafts Inlay Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass, Copper
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