Jewelry Boxes: A Tradition of Elegance

Opening a jewelry box always evokes a feeling of anticipation and pleasure. The glittering, colorful contents give a sense of events to come, memories past and aesthetic satisfaction. Whether diamonds or rhinestones, precious stones or colored glass, the sparkle and splendor of the pieces inside hint of drama and create expectation.

Jewelry boxes come in all shapes and sizes, colors and materials. From ornately decorated silver to inlaid rare wood, cloth, leather or cardboard, the jewelry box is a ubiquitous and at the same time unique accessory for men, women and children. A jewelry box can be a stand-alone piece of furniture, or an objet d’art displayed on a tabletop or dresser.

Since jewels and ornaments have existed, so has a box in which to store them. In every culture, in every millennium, in wealthy households and poor, there have been special containers for trinkets, jewelry and valuables. From Egypt to Japan, India to France, jewelry boxes are not only storage containers for gems and precious items, but exemplify craftsmanship and beauty from all periods and cultures.

Antique Jewelry Boxes

Antique jewelry boxes often display fine craftsmanship and exotic materials, becoming works of art in their own right. Also called caskets or coffins, these boxes were made of rare or exotic woods, porcelain, crystal, glass, stone or leather with inlays of gold, silver, mother-of-pearl, ivory, brass, tortoiseshell or gemstones. The interiors were as opulent as the exteriors, lined with cloth such as silk, brocade or velvet.

Many of these original, ornate antique boxes are on display in museums throughout the world including the Louvre in Paris, The Hermitage in Russia, and the British Museum in London. They give an insight into the elegance and lifestyles of royalty and aristocracy in Europe and the Orient. Some antique forms are reproduced for contemporary use and enjoyment.

Musical Jewelry Boxes

Perhaps the most whimsical and romantic is the musical jewelry box, often enclosing a dancing ballerina. By lifting the lid, the ballerina arises out of the gleaming stones and a pleasing air of classical music accompanies her spinning. Generations of little girls have spent hours with their musical boxes, making the ballerina dance, donning the jewels and twirling around the room to the music.

Developed in the 1700’s, the early music boxes were manufactured in Switzerland. The popularity of these intriguing and pleasant boxes grew, and production centers shifted to Germany and the United States. These boxes remained popular until the early twentieth century when the phonograph came into vogue as the way to listen to music.

The musical apparatus can be attached to almost any material; thus musical jewelry boxes are made from not only wood, but crystal, porcelain, glass and even materials such as papier-mâché, cloth and enamel. They continue to be produced and may be the most favored girl’s jewelry boxes.

Valet Boxes

Men’s jewelry boxes are traditionally more somber, elegant and sleek. Often used for watches and men’s ornaments, these boxes typically have one or two tiers with sections for convenient storage of small items such as cuff links and tie pins. Although men’s jewelry boxes tend to be understated, nonetheless they can show intricate craftsmanship. The Anglo-Indian Vizagapatam and Sadeli boxes feature inlays of precious stones, mother-of-pearl, silver, horn or ivory on woods such as sandalwood, teak and rosewood. This style was popular with the British in India in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and manufacturing of not only jewelry boxes but other furniture items in this style was quickly taken up by the Indian craftsmen for the European market.

Leather jewelry boxes have been a traditional favorite with men. The shagreen technique of roughened leather treatment originated in Persia, but was adapted by Jean-Claude Galluchat of the Court of Louis XV. He used exotic hides such as sharkskin to create leather items that were coveted by the aristocracy of that era. Today, adaptations of leather jewelry boxes include charger ports and storage pockets for cell phones and other small electronics.

Wooden jewelry boxes crafted with various decorative materials including veneers, inlays and different colors of solid woods are also popular men’s styles.

Women’s Jewelry Boxes

Women’s jewelry boxes may be the most varied in material, size and shape. Specialty boxes are made for particular types of jewelry, such as ring boxes, earring boxes, necklace boxes and bangle boxes. They may contain a single tier or be multi-tiered and often contain fitted compartments for different types of jewelry. The shapes and designs of jewelry boxes for women are more varied, from traditional to pop-art, reflecting personal taste and style.

White jewelry boxes are traditionally given as bridal gifts and have elegant but simple leather or faux leather exteriors. These classic boxes are often multi-tiered musical boxes with ample storage space for all categories of jewelry.

Lacquer Jewelry Boxes

Lacquer as a decorative medium became a hallmark of Chinese, and later, Japanese art. Its widespread popularity throughout the Orient is evident by the diversity and abundance of artifacts made from this material. Made from the toxic sap of a tree, the resin is versatile and easy to work with. It provides a smooth, shiny water-resistant surface often enhanced with inlays of tortoise shell, mother-of-pearl, gold, silver or other metals. After European trade with China was established, lacquer ware became popular in Europe and Chinese artisans created objects in response to that demand. The Japanese maki-e lacquer uses foil or powdered gold and silver to create the motif. The translucent quality of the lacquer gives an illusion of depth, as if the motif were floating in a waxy medium.

Lacquer jewelry boxes are classic, beautiful pieces with an array of decorative motifs. Smaller pieces are often crafted as table-top chests or miniature armoires, with brass fittings on double doors that open onto drawers or shelves. Larger pieces such as armoires function as both storage for jewelry and as furniture. The exterior decoration is usually in traditional oriental motifs such as pastoral scenes, birds, flowers or symbols. Lacquer ware finishes are simple and elegant, and complement any décor.

Wooden Jewelry Boxes

Perhaps the most commonly used material, wood jewelry boxes are also the most varied in size and elaboration of decoration. These boxes are made of all types of wood, from simple pine, exotic ebony or mahogany, to fragrant sandalwood or classic rosewood. The characteristics of each type of wood affect the overall appearance. The grain, polish, finish and decorative applications provide aesthetic variation. Woods can be inlaid with mother-of-pearl, precious stones or metals such as brass, bronze, silver and gold to create individual works of art as appealing as the jewels that are cached within. Veneers of different woods can be applied in decorative patterns to create an interesting and elegant surface.

Wooden boxes tend to be larger, often multi-tiered with drawers or lift-out trays. The largest may have double-doors that open armoire-style. Size dictates how these jewelry boxes are displayed: as pieces of furniture, or as decorative pieces that sit atop other furniture. Shapes vary from traditional, such as square and rectangular or oval and round, to unique shapes such as animals or abstract forms.

Porcelain, Crystal and Glass Jewelry Boxes

Fragile and elegant, porcelain, crystal and glass boxes are created in many forms and sizes. Established European manufacturers of fine crystal and porcelain produced boxes throughout their histories. Today these are found as antique boxes as well as newly made pieces. Limoges, Waterford, Royal Doulton, Royal Vienna, Wedgwood, Swarovski, Tiffany and Lalique are among the makers of fine pieces used as jewelry boxes. Often smaller than other kinds of jewelry boxes, they may serve as ring or earring boxes, watch boxes or as temporary storage. Many are also fitted as musical boxes. Glass or crystal allows the colorful contents to beckon and gleam through the facets. These decorative pieces are favored as jewelry gift boxes.

Armoire Jewelry Boxes

Armoires are stand-alone tall, narrow, wooden cabinets with several drawers. The modern French word is derived from the Latin armarium, meaning cupboard or closet. Armoire jewelry boxes range in size from small, bureau-top cabinets to full-sized vanities or wall-mounted cupboards. Some have double doors that open onto concealed drawers, or side panels that open for additional jewelry storage. The drawers are often sectioned and provide ample space for jewelry and valuables.

Armoires can be found as antiques in many classical furniture styles such as Queen Anne, Louis XIV, Napoleon III, Art Deco, or the American Mission Style. Lacquer armoires of all sizes are also popular. The range of types and colors of woods ensures that these graceful cabinets can be integrated into any décor. For example, a small white table-top armoire may be an attractive accent to a young girl’s room. The ample storage and choice of woods make armoires enjoyable and versatile jewelry boxes for girls.

Choosing a Jewelry Box

Several factors contribute to the selection of a jewelry box: personal taste, the amount and type of jewelry to be stored and price. Personal taste is perhaps the primary factor in selection. The appearance, shape, quality of manufacture and material of the box contribute to the aesthetic appeal. Other factors influencing choice include how the box will be displayed, for example, as a piece of furniture, an accent to a bureau or tabletop, or stowed on a shelf in a closet.

The quantity and type of jewelry to be stored contributes to the selection as well. Protection of valuable pieces is important, so a box with multiple tiers and segregated compartments is a better choice for those with a large quantity of ornaments. Specialty boxes may be another choice; for example, a separate box for bangles makes storage and selection easier. Necklace boxes include small hangars or hooks to separate individual strands and prevent tangling. They also allow pieces to be easily seen and selected for use.

The cost of a box also contributes to the selection. The variety of materials available allows the selection of a beautiful box even for limited budgets. Some boxes are constructed of man-made materials that are pleasing replicas of more expensive natural materials. A jewelry box can also be considered an investment and an heirloom. Purchase of a better quality box at a higher price may be of long-term benefit.

A jewelry box contains not only ornaments, but hopes, dreams and memories, the wealth of a lifetime.