Antique Boxes
Antique boxes are a very sought after, collectable item. When purchasing antique boxes it is possible to pick up some beautiful pieces, if only for display purposes, they look lovely on a shelf or mantelpiece. There are an extensive variety of styles and sizes of antique boxes, including jewellery boxes, writing boxes, toolboxes, toy boxes, vanity boxes, snuff boxes, sewing boxes, cigar boxes and cutlery boxes.
History of Boxes
Wood was the earliest material used to make a box- an antique box has a certain charm in itself. Boxes evolved from this simplistic creation for a number of purposes. During the 18th C the Rococo and Neo-classical designs saw beautiful mahogany boxes, which are both beautiful and durable. During the late Neo-classical period the following materials were applied to the boxes to make them more ornate- enamel, marble, brass, mother of pearl, copper, ivory and paper mache.
Antique boxes appearance also began to be enhanced by adding banding, inlay and stringing. Veneers got thinner by the second half of the 19th C and there are a number of nice antique boxes with walnut veneers. As are there some beautiful antique silver boxes on the market.
Types of Antique Boxes
When looking for an antique box it is important to consider its age, condition, the maker, the nature of the construction, the value and its history.
Antique Silver boxes
It is possible to pick up a vast number of antique silver boxes; the love affair with all things silver began in the 16th C and the beginning of the 17th C, during this time among other things boxes were produced made from silver. Silver boxes were very popular so there is still a wide selection available. Their main use was to store valuables, whether this was jewellery, snuff or tobacco. Silver is less porous than wooden boxes so was useful at protecting its contents from external elements.
Silver boxes had a certain status attached; they were namely owed by the wealthy, stylish and often simplistic, though they can be very ornate in some cases. They can come with a lock and key. A silver snuffbox sits neatly in ones pocket. They may have minor markings; complex locking mechanisms and some can come with lovely padded interiors.
A silver music box is a very valuable and sought after collectors item. Popular antique silver box makers of their time include F. Boyton and Co, Charles Elay, John Edwards II, Thomas Kendrick and Thomas Lamborn. When purchasing an antique silver box pay attention to the hallmarks, if genuine it will help identify the date of manufacture. Silver boxes should have a purity of 92.5%.
Antique Jewellery boxes
Used to store a number of personal effects antique jewellery boxes have a history all of their own; love letters, jewels, personal effects among other things would have been housed in them. Early designs of jewellery boxes were fairly modest; they may have been covered in leather and lined with satin.
During the Regency period though there was the addition of ring compartments with cushioned grooves; a necklace compartment, with hooks to hang and display drawers for bracelets, brooches, earrings and there may have also been secret compartments.
Other popular antique boxes include the tea caddy, which will often have very detailed construction. Hand painted boxes are also lovely- a chinoiserie box is particularly nice.
Makers of antique boxes of note are Asprey, Chubb, Hancock, Jenner and Knewstubb, Lovegrove and Flint and Tolmin and Gale.
