Saturday, July 25, 2015

Jewelry boxes from the past

For many vintage/antique jewelry collectors, it may have occurred to them that a jewelry box is a must to store their precious jewelry. I have been obsessing over beautiful vintage jewelry box for quiet some time now, and I find Etsy to be a great place to browse the options. Below are jewelry boxes that I have picked out to share with you because I think they are unique and beautiful.

Jewelry boxes were once designed like treasure chest because they were used by the royalty, priests, and aristocrats who could afford to own valuables. However during the Industrial Revolution, fine jewelry became affordable for the middle class, and jewelry boxes started to be mass produced. You could find boxes made for single rings, multiple rings and boxes designed for jewelry and accessories. Some contained mirrors, clocks, or mechanical music-makers, while others had multiple compartments, drawers or trays.

Mid-century Ornate silverplate jewelry box sold by GoodPennyDesigns.

CASKET JEWELRY BOX:
These kind of jewelry box often come in the shape of a rectangle, and is made of inlaid or carved wood, metal, porcelain, button-pressed glass, or plastics like celluloid or Lucite. Others are shaped like squat cylinders with feet, heart-shaped boxes, egg-shaped containers, or human figurines.

Antique Jewelry Casket Brass Box- Ormolu Repossé Souvenir of France, 1900-1909. Sold by DanetteDarbonne.

In the early 1900s metal jewelry caskets flourished and was mass-produced in Europe and sold to U.S customers. The boxes (cast of antimonial lead) were electroplated in copper and finished in silver or gold with names like French Bronze, Roman Gold, Pompeian Gold, French Gray, and Parisian Silver. The inside you would find it lined with velvet, satin, faille, or silk.

Vintage Gold Filigree Casket Jewelry Box from 1960s, sold by bohemiansoulshine

TRINKET BOX:
The trinket box is a sibling of the casket jewelry box. These kind of jewelry box are embraced by the Victorians as they collect curiosities, souvenirs, gadgets, and other knick-knacks. The illustrations often featured miniature figures of kids, flowers, or animals on the lids. It kind of reminds me of disneyland. The most popular and probably the most expensive trinket boxes were created for the Russian Tsar from 1890s to early 1900s. You can read more about trinket boxes here.
Blue Trinket Jewelry Sewing Box- Arlequin Pierrot Colombine Decor, French Antique 1930, sold by FrenchAntiqueBoutique

French Antique Tobacco Box, Art Nouveau, 1920s, sold by TheGentlemansBlade

Antique Islamic Koran Quran Jewelry Enamel Box Holder, 1950s, sold by Acrazeelady

ART NOUVEAU MOVEMENT:
As the naturalistic Art Nouveau movement emerges, it led to flowing organic motifs, such as sinewy flowers, fluttering birds, and beautiful women. Keeping with Victorian tradition, the type of flowers on the jewelry box could represent a coded romantic message: four-leaf clovers meant good luck, daisies meant innocence, and roses were for love. (Below is just an example of a jewelry box with floral designs and not from the Victorian Era.)

Vintage Ormolu Gold Filigree Footed Jewelry Box Floral Design, 1950s. Sold by Junkbay

Filigree bronze and colored glass jewelry box, circa 1800's - early 1900's. Sold by arusantiques.

Godinger Silver Plated Jewelry Box, 1980s sold by GiftsByIrisWithLove

Wood is also one of the many materials used to make jewelry boxes. The texture gives off a crafty touch.
Vintage Italian Wedding Ring Box, Florentine Gold Gilt Wooden trinket box, 1950s. Sold by millyscollection.

Vintage Box, S.F. Hess & Co. sold by RustbeltTreasures
Antique Japanese Black Fine Cloisonne Box Early Century Birds and Floral, 1920s, sold by LotusInTheWind

Antique Beveled Glass Jewelry Box with Filigree Vanity Mirror, sold by LuxuryCityAntiques

Antique Egyptian Nile Goose/Pintail Duck GEB Decorative Glass Mosaic Keepsake Box, 1930. sold by CASAdeORO



10 comments:

  1. SOO..amazing.I like very much this all boxes.Its first box look like princes jewellery box.In there box also fit mirror for showing our self.Its all box seem like old custom.Which i like most that is eight jewellery box and I want bought It for my mother.She put in his jewellery in pocket But I want bought this box especially for my mom To see this present she will very happy.Thanks for sharing your amazing post with us.

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  2. I love jewelry boxes. I have a big black jewelry box in my room. I think the older jewelry boxes were made a lot better. I love the Antique Beveled Glass Jewelry Box with Filigree Vanity Mirror. I also like the Antique Egyptian Nile Goose/Pintail Duck GEB Decorative Glass Mosaic Keepsake Box. Thanks for sharing all the different designs!

    Brandi Bradley @ Rotax Metals

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