Antique Box Guide

French Box Design

The French ébénistes (cabinetmakers) enjoyed a reputation for the artistic and decorative expression they applied to their box manufacture; this being amplified, in the opinion of some, when compared to their more ‘reserved’ British counterparts. READ MORE

Maker’s and Retailer’s Marks

For the purposes of identification, advertising and acknowledgement, many boxes would bear the ‘marks’ of their maker’s and retailer’s. Their names, business addresses and details could be engraved or stamped into small brass plates or locks, gold-tooled and embossed into leather or velvet, engraved into wood or ivory plaques, or printed onto paper labels.

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Velvet

Although documented as far back as the 8th century, velvet wasn’t introduced to Great Britain until the late 13th century.

Synonymous with royalty, nobility and the affluent, velvet was an expensive and highly desirable material due to its luxurious appearance, ability to absorb vibrant colour dyes, and its complication of manufacture. READ MORE

Morocco Leather

Morocco leather was considered one of the finest varieties of leather due to its suppleness and softness, as well as its strength and resilience. Initially sourced from Moroccan goatskin, later sources, whilst often still being referred to as ‘Morocco’ leather, also came from North African sheepskin and split calfskin. READ MORE

Mirrors

The inclusion of mirrors in dressing cases was almost a prerequisite. Removable mirrors would be stowed in the lid of the box and with some having their own fold out stands, could be placed on a dressing table or other surface. READ MORE

Moiré silk

This is an effect created during the finishing of the silk material called Calendering. This involves folding the silk material and passing it under rollers at high temperatures and pressures. The result is an attractive wavy, watermarked patterning to the silk. READ MORE

Exterior and Interior Design

With most earlier box makers often keeping to more conventional box opening designs, the Victorian makers started to think more creatively regarding this. With style, practicality, space maximization and indeed status in mind, these Victorian box makers began to make significant changes to the more standard box form that most people had been accustomed to for millenniums. READ MORE

Cross-Banding

Cross-banding is the process of creating a border of veneer with its grain running at right angles to the grain of the adjoining veneer. READ MORE

Brass Handles

Whether it was country to country, city to city or just room to room, some of these boxes, often being heavy, needed to be carried easily and safely during travel. Taking influence from the campaign furniture of the time, makers would fit brass side or top handles to these boxes. READ MORE

Crowns and Coronets

Crowns are a symbol of monarchy, representing Kings and Queens, Princes and Princesses, and Dukes and Duchesses. A Coronet is another type of crown, but is reserved for the lower ranks of nobility like Marquesses and Marchionesses, Earls and Countesses, Barons and Baronesses, and some Lords and Ladys.

The specific design and attributes of the crown or coronet signifies the hierarchy and ranking of its owner. Denotations of ‘strawberry leaves’ and ‘pearls’ are used in differentiating the ranks of the Peerage.

British crown and coronet nobility rankings in hierarchical order.

A marquess or marchioness’ coronet.

Antique Jewellery Box in Calamander with Secret Wall Compartments, by Asprey.

A viscountess’ coronet above an ‘M.A’ monogram belonging to Viscountess Marian Alford.

Antique Jewellery Box in Coromandel with Viscountess Coronet, by William Leuchars.

An earl or countess’ coronet.

Large Antique Jewellery Box in Coromandel with Countess’ Coronet, by William Leuchars.

An earl or countess’ coronet.

Extra Large Antique Jewellery Box in Coromandel with Concealed Drawers.

A marchioness’ coronet above an ‘S.Q’ monogram belonging to the Marchioness of Queensberry.

Antique Jewellery Box in Coromandel, Retailed by C.F. Hancock – A Wedding Present from the Marquess of Queensberry to the Marchioness of Queensberry.

Coronet and monogram belonging to Baroness Rothschild.

Antique Jewellery Box in Coromandel by Jenner & Knewstub.

A baron or baroness’ coronet.

Leuchars Coromandel Antique Jewellery Box with Baron/ Baroness Coronet.

A duke or duchess’ crown.

Asprey coromandel box with an inlaid duke or duchess’ crown.

Coronet belonging to Mary Constance Wyndham, Countess of Wemyss.

Asprey Antique Jewellery Box in Coromandel.

An earl or countess’ coronet.

Antique Jewellery Box in Rosewood by Edwards.

An earl or countess’ coronet.

Antique Jewellery Box in Kingwood with Brass Inlaid Coronet Monogram.

Escutcheons

Escutcheons are usually shaped plates, often made from brass, that can either surround a keyhole or be inlaid into the top of the lid. READ MORE

Brass Hinges

Brass hinges were used to connect the lid to the main part of the box. There were countless styles of brass hinge, and the type chosen by the box maker would reflect practicality and design. READ MORE

Brass Inlay

During the Regency period it was very much the height of opulence to inlay delicately shaped pieces of brass design into wood.

Inspired from the French Napoleonic style, this art form was only attained by the most skilled and patient craftsman. READ MORE

Brass Corner Mounts

These were often sculpted right angle shaped pieces of brass that were inlaid into the corners of the interior rims of the box. Originally used to reinforce the corner joints, these corner mounts became more of a decorative detailing feature rather than serving a practical purpose. READ MORE

Brass Stringing

Thin strands of squared brass stringing were sometimes inlaid into the wood, often running parallel with the exterior perimeter brass edging or inlaid into the interior rims of the box. This was purely as a form of additional decoration. READ MORE

Brass Edging and Binding

The use of brass to edge the perimeter of a box seems to date back to around the start of George IV’s reign in 1820. As well as to protect, strengthen and conceal the joints, the brass was also considered as an additional decoration to the box’s exterior. READ MORE

Leather Outer Cases

During travel, these valuable boxes could be easily damaged and subjected to all manner weather and climate conditions, especially if they were to be stowed away on carriages or ships. Therefore, by request, these boxes could be supplied with their own bespoke protective outer cases. READ MORE