ANTIQUE SNUFF BOX HP MEMORIAL PIQUE INLAID Antique memorial snuff box. Pique - shell and horn inlaid with silver and gold. Made 19th century. <P><P>
Measures just over 2 1/4 inches in diameter. 1 1/8 inches high. <P><P>
Round box, made largely of shell, with a band of horn near the top of the side. The top is set with a handpainted memorial scene - a church / castle with trees in the background, a memorial or gravestone leaning over under the tallest tree. Unusually, there is a goat with a herder in the forefront. The memorial plaque is set in a raised silver frame with herringbone pattern. <P>
Surrounding the central plaque is a ring of urns and swags intersperced with star-shaped flowers. All inlaid in gold and silver with engraved highlights. THe urns echo the memorial theme. <P><P>
Very good condition. No losses to the pique.  

CARVED WOOD TABATTIERE SNUFF BOX POMANDER Antique carved wooden tabattiere or snuff box.<P><P>
Measures a total of 4 1/2 inches in length. Without the cap / finial: 3 inches long. <P><P>
Beautifully hand carved wooden container for snuff or tobacco. Acorn in shape with a long, crowning cap or finial at one end that continues the botanical theme. The entire surface is carved with flowers and scrolling foliage, finely detailed and with delicate openwork throughout. In front is a badge shaped reserve, which could be engraved with a monogram (none was ever done). <P><P>
The box screws open in the middle. Fits snugly. This is an unusual example in that it has the screw-on cap or finial on top, with a narrow opening. <P><P>
Condition is good. There is a negligible surface age crack on the upper portion, that in no way detracts from the piece. <P><P>
Origin & Date: we have had a number of very similar items that came from France and dated to the 18th century. This particular example may be a slightly later (19th century) version from India. Buyer can decide based on the enlarged 'photos.

We had an email from a knowledgeable person who wrote: it is a pomander box made from coquilla nut. These palm nuts are quite small, and larger items made using the threaded ring technique. It is frequently used in the constuction of figural snuff boxes, as well. Possibly had a base and stem at one time. One reference book I have claims these pierced pomander boxes pierced "eggs" were sold outside of churches in France and Italy in Victorian days, and contained a rosary of the same material.  

ANTIQUE IVORY GOLD PEARL SNUFF BOX, FOX CREST Antique ivory, gold, gem and pearl snuff box with fox crest and Memento Mori memorial / mourning miniature portrait. Made in England circa 1800. <P><P>
Elongated oval is slightly under 4 1/4 inches long. <P><P>
Ivory top and bottom with gold mounts. Gold disc with engraved monogram - beautifully written double R's. A sturdy gold hinge to open the lid. A small applied Tudor Rose and then a gold frame with original convex glass over a Memento Mori memorial miniature vignette, with a woman seated besides a characteristic funerary pillar or tombstone in a landscape. On the pillar is a gold wire-work basket in different shades of gold, containing fruit made of pearls and gems (turquoise and lapis lazuli). THe edge of the ivory is protected with a gold horse-shoe border with hallmarks on it's underside. Beneath this, on the front of the box is a rare crest, engraved with a fox. The fox is beautifully depicted in full gallop - little devillish ears and tongue, bushy tail stretched out behind him. <P><P>
Hallmarks look French. <P><P>
Good condition.  

INLAID BRASS WOOD BOX HUMIDOR ART CRAFT Antique octogonal lidded bowl / box, humidor. Made of brass, gilt lined and inlaid precious woods. European origin. Style dates it to Art Nouveau / Arts Crafts era circa 1880- 1910. <P><P>
Measures approx 6 inches accross from one point to another. Height is approx 3 1/2 inches to the top of the finial/handle. <P><P>
8-sided box made of precious burl woods. Round base. Entire mount, inside and out is golden-coloured brass with the panels of wood entirely encircled and set inside the brass. Each panel has a different brass pattern over the wood, as does the top. The patterns show the elongated scrolling designs typical of the Art Nouveau period with a Celtic tone, typical of Arts and Crafts. The technique and work of this piece is quite magnificent. The inside, all shiny brass (looks gilded) needs a thorough clean, but there are no dings/dents. <P><P>
The whole piece - box/bowl and lid are in good, original condition.  

PR SGND ARTS CRAFTS NOUVEAU MOP SILVER BOX Pair of signed Arts and Crafts / Art Nouveau casket boxes made of mother of pearl mounted in gilt silver with figures of women and trees. Made late 19th

century 1880 - 1899.

Each casket is a little over 3 1/4 inches long at the back and 1 5/8 inches high. <br>
The front is convex or bowed. The lid is mounted in a sterling silver, gilt washed frame, with deviates in the front center to form a marvellous depiction of

a maiden standing over an arch, in front of a flowering tree. There are many levels: the background is the white mother of pearl that forms most of the box.

WIthin the arch of the metal, it is iridescent in shades that glitter with the angle that light catches it - from pink through green to yellow. The relief

sculpted tree with chrysanthemums on top shows typical aesthetic movement attention to stretched and stylised natural forms. The gilding is worn in many

parts on the silver. The top of each box has a raised silver monogram MTC.

The back of each box is hallmarked with a head facing right and a maker's mark A.F. WHile Alexander Fisher might have made something like these boxes, he

worked in England, so we are still ignorant of the actual maker, AF.

I had an email that reads:According to Tardy's International Hallmarks on Silver, the hallmark is Austro-Hungarian, the woman's head with the crescent moon and the "1" indicates a fineness of .950, a little more than 925, and that it was made from May 26 1886 to April 22, 1922. As far as the AF is concerned, I presume this is an Austro-Hungarian silversmith, not an English one! Hope this helps Sheila

Many thanks to Sheila.  

MAPPIN WEBB ST SILVER INLAID TORTOISE BOX 191 Edwardian sterling silver and tortoise shell box made by Mappin and Webb, Birmingham, England in 1911. <br><br>
Measures between 1 1/4 and 1 1/8 inches high; 2 1/8 inch diameter, excluding the legs. <br><br>
Round silver box standing on 3 fleur-de-lis flower-shaped legs. RIdged mounts conform to circular form. TOp is slightly convex tortoise, beautifully inlaid with silver in the form of a hanging basket of flowers under a double swag of egg and dart pattern. When the hinged lid is lifted, the light shines through the tortoise. THe bottom is lined with velvet. Underneath, the bottom within the silver mount is leather and embossed in gold MAPPIN & WEBB very clearly. The circumference is engraved with the Mappin & Webb maker's mark, anchor for Birmingham, lion passant for sterling silver, date letter M for 1911 and finally, embossed MAPPIN & WEBB LTD. The silver on the border of the lid is also hallmarked with a lion and M. <br><br>
Condition is very good.  

ANTIQUE MICRO MOSAIC SNUFF / JEWELRY BOX Antique brass micromosaic snuff or jewelry box. Most of these boxes were made in Italy during the 19th century. This is a particularly fine example.
<P> It measures 2 5/8inches in diameter and approx 1 1/2inches high. <P>
Round brass box has not been polished so has great coppery patina. The top is set with a wonderful micro mosaic floral arrangement within blue micromosaic frames. Flowers of various sizes and shapes, very finely done, and uneven levels give a 3-dimentional, living appearance. <br>
Sides of the box have simple, gadrooned decorative rings. The inside of the box is lined in purple velvet. <P>
We didn't see any missing tesserae. Generally, the box is in very good condition.  

FRENCH ISLAMIC BRONZE CLOISONNE ENAMEL BOX French Islamic Persian style cloisonne champleve enamel on dore bronze box. Made 19th century.<br><br>
Measures slightly under 6 1/2 inches square, with rounded corners. A little over 1 1/2 inches high.
Hinged box. Square shape with rounded corners. The outer surface is enamelled with intricate champleve enamel in a Persian inspired pattern, with tiny flowers, foliage and scrolls in geometrically repeating patterns. Colours range from a creamy yellow ground, through greens, pale, Windsor and cobalt blue to iron red / orange , purple and white. The border has a very thin margin of engraved geometric pattern. Inside base has original velvety lining and top has gilded bronze raised pattern.<br>
Condition is very good.  

FAURE LIMOGES ENAMEL O COPPER BOX EXOTIC BIRD Signed FAURE LIMOGES enamel on copper box depicting an exotic bird amidst flowers in the Japanese / Chinese taste. Made in France, early 20th century.

<br><br>
Measures 3 3/4 inches long; 3 inches wide and over 1 3/8inches high. <br>
Box is made of metal, believed to be copper, light orange in colour and engine turned on sides and bottom. Inside has an impressed 10 and is lined in black

velvet, which might be a later addition since it is in almost mint condition. Lid is hinged and domed. It has a brown enamel ground, decorated with an

elaborate scene of a fantastic bird alighting on a branch, surrounded by huge flowers and swirling masses, which might be clouds, as seen in Chinese and

Japanese art work. The bird is blue and yellow, outlined in gold. Flowes in pink, apricot, red and lots of shades of green and yellow foliage. <br><br>
Signed in gold letters FAURE Limoges. France. This is believed to be for Camille Faure, well known Limoges enamel artist. <br>
Condition is very good. No dings/dents to copper. Enamel has no cracks/chips.  

HENCKELS ARTS CRAFTS BRASS INLAID WOOD BOX MA Arts and Crafts / Art Nouveau brass inlaid wooden box containing a manicure / dresser set. Made by J.A. Henckels Zwillingswerk Solingen (Germany) - late 19th - early 20th century.
Box measures approx 10 inches accross and 6 inches high.
Brass box / casket with wood inlay. Rich wood with gorgeous patina and markings, curved and domed. The brass patterning is superb - see photos, and the ultimate in design, with scrolls, fans and symbolised flowers. The shapes and their repetition around all the surfaces of the box, give a strong sense of flowing movement.
The deep inside section has an upper layer that is fitted for a manicure / dresser set with ivory handles. Two items are missing. The set includes a small corkscrew that would be used to remove the cork on a perfume bottle. The fitted tray is lined in blue velvet. The padded inside of the lid with royal purple cover has gilt embossed logo for J.A. Henckels Zwillingswerk SOlingen. A number of the manicure pieces are also marked with the Henckels logo (a pair of stylised people), that is still in use today.
Condition is very good.  

SILVER METAL FILIGREE BOX SET STONES VINTAGE Vintage filigree silver metal (no hallmarks and not believe to be sterling) pill / snuff /

trinket box, set with hardstones. Likely originates in the Middle East or Caucases.<br> Person I

bought it from believed it was unmarked sterling silver. I think it is silver-coloured metal.

<br>
Measures 2 inches accross and approx 1 5/8inches high.
Stands on 4 angled feet. Beautiful filigree work in hearts and scrolls cover the entire surface.

Further set with a variety of hard stones in turquoise, red, blue and green. Beautiful

workmanship. Good condition.  

MICROMOSAIC GILT METAL & ENAMEL BOX ITALY 19C Micromosaic gilt metal and enamelled box, made Italy, 19th century.
Measures slightly under 3 1/2inches in diameter and 2 inches high.
Round box stands on 4 ball feet. Beaded border around micromosaic. The sides decorated with shaded enamel vines and berries.
The top with exceptional scene of St. Peter's and the square, Roman ruins, fountains, street lights and tiny people in the foreground. Fantastic fine and detailed work. Set in black marble. Inside has remains of original silk lining. Pin to hinge either replaced or in need of correction as cover does not sit quite right on the box. Micromosaic in very good condition with no losses/damage/restoration.  

RUSSIAN LACQUER BOX TROIKA SNOW VISHNYAKOV A round lacquer box depicting a troika in a snowy winter scene. Made by the Vishnyakov workshop during the reign of Alexander III (19th century).
Diameter is 3 1/2inches.
Beautifully painted snow landscape on top of box. 2 woman passengers, a standing driver, raised arm urging on the horses, in a troika pulled by 3 horses.
Condition of painting is excellent, especially considering the age of the piece. Unfortunatley, the lid is stuck closed. Almost certainly there is an Imperial award stamp inside, hidden from view. The rest of the box is in very good condition.
The Vishnayakov lacquer works, founded in the 1780's, was later to become the basis of the Fedoskino lacquer work group.  

SIGNED 18C DELFT HP SNUFF / JEWELRY BOX Antique signed blue and white enamel glazed Delft box. Dutch, made 18th century or before.
Measures 3 3/4inches long and 3inches wide. 2 inches high.
Entire outer surface is beautifully handpainted in charming scenes of a courting couple, typical Dutch water and landscapes with windmills, yaghts, boats and little houses amidst prettily painted trees, each vignette seperated from the others by scrolling and floral patterns. Fine art work. Metal mount may be silver, but it is too old to be sure. Hinged lid with hinge in good condition. Underneath, box is signed in blue with AK. Signature is similar to at least 2 found in WM Chaffers book on marks, page 273:#33 and #3 for Adrianus Kocks, 1687 and Albrecht de Keizer, 1642, respectively.
Condition is very good. There is a very shallow surface scratch in the enamel underneath the box. It looks as though the metal has been re-attached in 2 small spots inside the lid, and there are 1-2 negligible rough spots underneath the bottom of the box. The visible portion of the box is in excellent condition with no damage of any sort to be seen, as is ceramic inside of the box.  

ANTIQUE SILVER INLAID COW LACQUER SNUFF BOX Antique snuff box. Black lacquer inlaid with silver in a pastoral scene with a cow in a fenced meadow. Early 19th century, possibly late 18th century.
3 1/2inches accross front, 1 inch high and 1 1/4inches front to back.
Black lacquer box with original hinges in excellent shape. Top is inlaid with silver, enhanced with engraved detail, depicting a cow in a fenced meadow. Strong Chinese influence seen in

the fence with stylised flowers and simplified trees. This theme was common in late 18th - early 19th century.
Generally excellent condition except for one small section of missing silver - barely noticeable unless you look for it.