Body adornments have been some of the earliest archeological finds, humans have always had an interest in dressing up. With that interest, comes the necessity of storage to keep our pretty odds-and-ends, one such item being the jewelry box. Here is some background in the history of the jewelry box, what to keep in mind when buying an antique jewelry box, and of course … some viable purchase options for you to pursue!
Jewelry boxes have existed since the ancient world, go to any history museum and you’ll likely find a Roman, Greek, or Egyptian container for jewelry pieces somewhere in their exhibits. However, fine jewelry was generally only accessible to the higher classes, those wealthy enough to pay for gems and rare metals, so jewelry boxes were not widely produced. In the post-Industrial era however, new materials made costume jewelry a possibility and the jewelry collection of the middle-class woman grew throughout the early 1900s. Today jewelry boxes run the historical range with the glass boxes favored in the 1940s, the Centurion styles more popular through the 60s, and plastic-based boxes all equally popular depending on personal taste.
Table of Contents
I) 1930s Jewelry Box
1. Gothic Brand Box
Period: 1920s-30s
Material: Leatherette, silk, & velvet
Price: $50
A detailed display box with a mix of Gothic and Art Deco styling, this is a lovely piece to display cherished pieces of jewelry in.
2. Art Deco Celluloid Box
Period: n/a
Material: Celluloid plastic, satin & velvet
Price: $46
This ring box is a rarity—Dennison boxes are a more common find, but this red color is a rare one. The box is in good condition, with only a few scuffs here and there!
3. Art Nouveau Gilded Casket
Period: n/a
Material: Metal and fabric
Price: $100
This wonderfully 3D design features repousse roses seemingly attempting escape from the box. The box is in good condition, with only minor signs of wear, while the interior fabric is in excellent condition.
4. Asian Hand-Painted Box
Period: n/a
Material: Wood & paint
Price: $40
This small wooden box has a hand-painted lid featuring a falcon and full moon. The box originated in Japan or Korea. It has some wear, a chip and some flaking paint, but is in good vintage condition.
5. Brass Trinket Box
Period: n/a
Material: Wood, brass, & fabric
Price: $40
A beautifully detailed little box, this wooden box is lined with engraved brass designs on the exterior and fabric on the interior. It shows some wear but is in overall functional and good condition.
6. Brocade & Metal Box
Period: n/a
Material: Brocade, metal, glass, & velvet
Features: Mirror inside
Price: $33
Delicate metal working and intricate brocade come together on this beautiful jewelry box. The interior features more metal working as well as a mirror and velvet lining. The box is in good vintage condition
7. Copper and Wood
Period: n/a
Material: Wood & copper
Price: $42
A petite wooden box with engraved copper pieces nailed on—the edges feature a natural design while the top displays a woman’s face. The box is in good vintage condition, with a lack of patina on the copper that suggests it has been well cared for.
8. Floral Wooden Box
Period: n/a
Material: Wood, glass, & paint
Features: Mirror & space divider inside
Price: $17
This handmade wooden box features gorgeous edging work and a lush boutique of flowers pained on top. Inside, the box features a mirror in excellent repair and a divider for two smaller storage slots.
9. Jewelry Casket
Period: n/a
Material: Cast metal
Price: $59
This Art Nouveau jewelry container is silver-plated with a gold wash, for a classy looking container for jewelry or trinkets. It is in good vintage condition.
10. Kingston Watches Box
Period: n/a
Material: Plastic, silk, & velvet
Features: Velvet-lined band inside for storing watches or bracelets around
Price: $18
A molded plastic box in ivory with Art Deco geometry, lined with velvet and silk inside. A few scuffs on the edges, but otherwise this box is in good vintage condition.
11. Toussant Glass’ Curtsy Girl Jar
Period: n/a
Material: Frosted glass
Price: $65
This powder jar is shaped like a curtsying girl in a flowing dress (jar base), there is no powder in it now, instead perfect for trinkets or jewelry! Is in in good vintage collection with no outstanding damage.
II) 1940s Jewelry Box
1. Cedar Decoupaged Box
Period: 1930s-40s
Material: Cedar wood & decoupage
Features: Mirror inside, lockable
Price: $34
This box features detailed carving work on the cedar wood body, with a country scene decoupaged on the top. The box has a bit of use, cracking on the lid and back legs missing, however the box is functionally fully usable and can even be locked with the right size of padlock!
2. Silk-Lined Wood Grain Boxes
Period: 1930s-40s
Material: Wood, veneer, & brass
Features: Chose between a square or rectangle box.
Price: $32-36
A couple of lovely presentational boxes, one rectangular and one square, are listed for individual purchase on this listing. They both look to be in good vintage condition.
3. Anglo-Indian Inlaid Box
Period: n/a
Material: Shell, stone, & wood
Features: Lockable, key included
Price: $275
A carving of two elephants is surrounded by inlays of bone, mother of pearl, ebony, walnut, teak, and rosewood on the top of this box, the edges feature inlays as well. Inside the box is lined with a deep blue fabric, the hinges look newer than the clasp so it’s possible the piece has been renovated at some point since the 1940s, it’s a piece worth the upkeep efforts!
4. Brass Stampings Box
Period: n/a
Material: Velvet, brass
Features: Technically lockable, keys missing though
Price: $38
This classy 1940s jewelry box has been renovated with brass stampings on the top. Inside the original silks and velvet are in excellent condition, clean and whole. The latch is functional and could lock but the original keys are missing.
5. Engraved Leather Box
Period: n/a
Material: Leather & metal
Features: Includes original padlock, albeit keyless
Price: $55
This box is in excellent condition and looks amazing. It is an unusual material as it is covered in engraved leather. Metal feet, handles and clasp are all in good vintage condition as well!
6. Progress Novelty Casting Works Dresser Box
Period: n/a
Material: Glass, metal, paper, & plastic
Features: Glass inset inside box, divided in three equal sections
Price: $35
A beautiful metal box is more than meets the eye as it opens to an elegant glass dish-inset. This piece is in excellent condition with no notable damages.
7. Pyrography Wood Box
Period: n/a
Material: Wood
Features: Insets divide the inside storage into three spaces, one large & two smaller
Price: $25
This wooden box features an unusual design style in the form of pyrography, where the design has been burned into the wood. It is an elegant piece of art in good vintage condition.
8. Vinyl Music Box
Period: n/a
Material: Vinyl & velvet
Features: Spinning ballerina style music box
Price: $52
This is the classic ballerina music box. It is usable for jewelry or manicure (five tools are included). The music box is functional, it winds up on the bottom of the box. Overall, the box is in good condition, with the fabrics looking clean and cared-for and the outside only showing mild aging!
III) 1950s Jewelry Box
1. Celebrity Inc. Starburst Jewelry Box
Period: n/a
Material: Lucite & velvet
Features: Lift-out tray with six storage compartments
Price: $24
This lucite (early plastic) box is in good condition with only minor scuffing, except a stain on the lid and some discoloring to the pink velvet that lines the tray.
2. Chinese Lacquered Rosewood
Period: n/a
Material: Rosewood, Lacquer, Brass, Jade, and Satin
Features: Traditional Chinese padlock, push key included!
Price: $83
This is an amazing box, from the jade inlay on top to the brass-reinforced corners and detailing to the traditional Chinese padlock, a style which is rarely found with the key intact like this one is! It has been well-cared for and is in excellent condition.
3. Commonwealth Plastics Corp. Pink Swirl Box
Period: n/a
Material: Early plastic, likely celluloid or lucite
Features: n/a
Price: $25
The era of plastics was beginning, this jewelry box emulates a pink and white marbled look on the exterior, with a velvet-esque lining inside. The box has a lift-up tray as well. In overall good vintage condition.
4. Farrington Texol Shell Box
Period: n/a
Material: Shell, velvet, & satin
Features: Shell design on the top adds a 3D impact to this box!
Price: $18
This is an interesting piece, with a miniature shell collection perched atop the lid. The box itself is in good condition with no outstanding wear.
5. Mele Brand Deep Green Leatherette Case
Period: n/a
Material: Leatherette and velvet
Features: Clasp close & secret compartment
Price: $42
A classic-looking leatherette jewelry case with a lift-up tray (and a hidden compartment!), this piece is a lovely find. It is in overall good condition, with no major wear marks and a functional clasp.
6. Pink with Golden Trim Case
Period: n/a
Material: Fabric
Features: Clasp close
Price: $38
A cute pink jewelry case with gold trimming features a lift-up tray and a functional clasp to keep your trinkets organized and secure.
7. Wooden Jewelry Box
Period: n/a
Material: Wood
Features: 10 compartments, some with individual lids
Price: $15
This wooden box features a lift-out section with 10 compartments, plus space underneath to store larger items. The veneer is peeling and may be better off removed all together. The joinery and box itself is in good condition overall!
IV) 1960s Jewelry Box
1. Buxton Brand Large Jewelry Box
Period: n/a
Material: Plastic & fabric
Features: A lot of storage, four trays in total
Price: $71
This 1960s jewelry box features a large amount of storage, two pull-out drawers with dividers and a lift-top with a pop-up tray, adding two more decks of divided storage. There are large spaces for bracelets and necklaces, as well as smaller compartments for rings or earring sets. This box is in excellent condition with only minor signs of wear!
2. Buxton Flowering Tree
Period: 1960s
Material: Leatherette, burlap, satin, & velvet
Features: Eight storage compartments + ring storage inside
Price: $27
This leatherette-encased box is white on the exterior with gold edging and tree design, inside the case is lined with bright red satin and velvet. The bottom of the case (outside) is burlap. All of the fabrics appear to be in excellent condition, with minimal wear.
3. Mele Red Velvet
Period: n/a
Material: Plastic, satin, & velvet
Features: n/a
Price: $20
This is a lovely red velvet-lined plastic case, it is durable and yet has been well-cared for obviously, given the impeccable shape of the fabrics. The interior is set-up to facilitate storage of rings & earrings, possibly small bracelets.
4. Ornate Hand-Carvings
Period: n/a
Material: Wood & velvet
Features: Functional lock with original skeleton key
Price: $179
This is a beautifully hand-carved wooden box lined with red velvet. It is in excellent condition, evidence of wear but nothing major!
5. Pink Satin-Lined Box
Period: n/a
Material: n/a
Features: n/a
Price: $10
This is a charming box, stamped in gold with fleur-de-lis, royal crests, and lions. The interior is lined in pink satin that appears to be in good condition. There are some pen marks on the bottom of the box but nothing too visible!
6. Vivid Vinyl Jewelry Case
Period: 1960s-70s
Material: Vinyl, silk, & felt
Features: Compact travel size!
Price: $25
This is a bright and exciting vinyl travel case ready for your next trip! It is in good condition, with clean orange felt and stardust satin lining the inside.
V) Victorian Jewelry Boxes
1. Green Velvet Brooch Box
Period: 19th century
Material: Velvet, metal, & satin
Features: Tiny push clasp keeps the box securely closed
Price: $209
This darling little box is lined outside with a dark green velvet, inside the lid features a matching satin. It is in good shape, especially considering the care velvet requires. There are a few wear spots around the edges.
2. French Ormolu Glass Casket
Period: 1880s
Material: Glass, ormolu, & silk
Features: Brand new silk cushion inside
Price: $180
This is a beautifully detailed case, from the metalworking around the edges and feet to the beveled glass and engraving on the lid. For being nearly 150 years old, it is in excellent condition!
3. Art Nouveau Floral Casket
Period: 1900s
Material: Metal & silk
Features: Hinged and lined
Price: $38
This is a rare find, from the early 20th century. Art Nouveau styling on a cast metal box, lined with silk. The casket is in fairly good condition although there is some rust and aging.
4. Green Velvet Jewelry Box
Period: 1900s
Material: Velvet, glass, silk, & brass
Features: Small mirror inside lid; lockable clasp, no key mentioned
Price: $95
A lovely green velvet box on brass feet, this piece shows some wear and tear to the fabric but is in overall good condition.
5. Art Deco Crystal Box
Period: 1920s
Material: Wood & glass
Features: Both crystal walls and lid can be removed to use as an open container
Price: $365
A beautiful glass-and-wood container with the clean-cut geometry of Art Deco styling. This piece is in good condition, with no outstanding chips or cracks to the glass.
6. Art Deco Crystal Box
Period: 1920s
Material: Wood, copper, & silk
Features: n/a
Price: $85
This is a beautiful cube-shaped box with copper detailing, both floral and geometrical. The interior silk is in excellent condition for its age, still vivid and bright. This is a well-cared for, quality find!
7. Victorian Girl Box
Period: 1940s
Material: Metal & glass
Features: Mirror inside lid
Price: $42
A quaint box featuring a Victorian-style girl replete with bonnet and flowers. This brass box shows a bit of tarnish but is in overall good vintage condition.
8. Godinger Silver Art Co. Box
Period: 1980s
Material: Silver & fabric
Features: n/a
Price: $90
Baroque-style floral patterns highlight this lovely Victorian box, even the bottom is stamped to round out the effect! The inside is lined with a deep red fabric that is in good condition as well
9. Carved Cedar w/ English Cottage Inset
Period: Pre-2000
Material: Cedar wood, glass, fabric
Features: Mirror with etched flowers inside lid
Price: $35
Carved cedar wood designs, featuring florals and rushes, spread across this box while an image of an English cottage is inset on the center of the lid. The box is in good vintage condition, the mirror inside does show some aging but nothing unexpected.
10. Tarnished Silver Box
Period: Pre-2000
Material: Silver
Features: Queen Anne legs elevate this box in a way rare to jewelry boxes
Price: $25
This silver box is in good condition, no breaks or dents. The silver is tarnished, it could be either left as-is for the full antique effect or polished up and returned to its original state. The interior is lined in red fabric.
VI) Centurion Jewelry Boxes
1. 2-Tier Wooden
Period: 1960s
Material: Wood, glass, & velvet
Features: Mirror inside & lift-out storage tray
Price: $49
This Centurion-style design features a velvet-lined storage tray replete with dividers and ring holders that lifts out to reveal more storage for larger items. It is in excellent condition, except a stain in the bottom of the box—a new piece of velvet is included to fix as the buyer sees fit.
2. Caned Wicker & Wood
Period: 1970s
Material: Wicker, wood, & fabric
Features: A pull-out drawer without dividers & a lift-top section for smaller storage
Price: $45
This design is largely wood, but the lift-top features caned wicker. The interior lining is a bright yellow color, that appears to be in pretty good condition, as does the box.
3. Decoupage Octagonal Box
Period: 1970s
Material: Wood, felt, & paint
Features: Mirror inside, dividers create three compartments + ring storage
Price: $15
A floral design is decoupaged on the top of this unusually shaped jewelry box. It is in good condition with only mild wear overall.
4. Four-Drawer Jewelry Chest
Period: 1970s
Material: Wood, metal, & fabric
Features: Single pullout drawer & a lift-top reveal 27 small compartments + ring storage
Price: $30
This piece is apparently a four-drawer chest, but in actuality it is slightly more useful: the bottom two drawers pull-out as one while the top lift to reveal the upper storage. The chest is in good vintage condition, with the yellow lining fabric unstained and still bold!
5. Etched Glass Cabinet
Period: 1980s
Material: Wood, glass, & fabric
Features: Two small compartments & ring storage at the bottom, swirl hangers at top
Price: $47
A floral etched glass design decorates the door of this tall jewelry cabinet. Inside, a round of hooks allows for plenty of necklace storage, with the bonus of lower compartments for smaller pieces such as rings. This piece is in good condition with no outstanding issues.
6. 3-Tier Mini
Period: 1980s
Material: Wood, metal, & fabric
Features: Two pull-out drawers & lift-up top (with mirror) reveal several compartments and ring storage, side door opens for hanging storage
Price: $28
This adorable miniature jewelry chest features a decent amount of storage, nonetheless. It is in good condition, a bit of heavy wear especially around the edges but overall functional.
7. 3-Tier Wooden
Period: 1980s
Material: Wood, metal, & fabric
Features: Small mirror and hangers inside lid, two pull-out drawers for large storage, and nine smaller compartments + ring storage under lid
Price: $63
This box is a larger jewelry box for substantial collections, it is in good shape with only minor wear to the edges and corners. The interior golden velvet is also in good condition, no rips or stains, only mild indentions here and there where prior jewelry pieces were stored.
8. Parquet Oak Box
Period: 1990s
Material: Wood & fabric
Features: Two compartments, one large and one small, with ring storage
Price: $27
This is a classy piece, the oak grain parquet on the top of the lid adds a stylistic appeal to this box. It has a few marks of time, but the fabric interior is in good condition, and nothing is truly outstanding, it is in overall good condition.
9. Teak & Brass Jewelry Box
Period: Pre-2000
Material: Wood, glass, brass, & fabric
Features: Two tiers of storage, upper divided into 12 small compartments, lower for ring storage. Mirror on inside of lid.
Price: $24
This teak and brass combo is a sleek design with lines reminiscent of 1980s styles. The box—fabric, wood, and all—is in good vintage condition.
VII) Vintage Jewelry Boxes
1. Cabinet Jewelry Case
Period: 1970s
Material: Wood, glass, and metal
Features: Two pull-out drawers for flat storage and a glass-fronted cabinet with hooks for necklace and ring storage
Price: $69
This is essentially a miniature furniture cabinet—designed specifically to store jewelry. The glass doors feature flower etchings; it is in good repair with minimal wear.
2. Tiger Eye Veneer Box
Period: 1980s
Material: Wood, veneer, & metal
Features: Four pull-out drawers + two side doors for hanging storage
Price: $35
A compact container with plenty of storage space, this jewelry box gives you plenty of options. It is in good condition, except one scratch across the top surface, but all the drawers & doors move smoothly for full functionality.
3. Silver Inset with Stones
Period: 1990s
Material: Silver & velvet
Features: n/a
Price: $250
A gorgeous wrought silver design winds around the exterior of this box, with stones inset on the top and sides. The design and wear suggest an earlier date than the seller has listed, it is a beautiful piece!
4. Stripe-stained Wood Drawer
Period: 1990s
Material: Wood & felt
Features: n/a
Price: $68
This unique little drawer was stained along the wood grain in vacillating stripes of red, gold, and purple to create a stunning effect. The drawer is smoothly finished, lined with felt, and in good vintage condition.
5. Cabinet Music Box
Period: Pre-2000
Material: Wood, glass, & metal
Features: Wind-up music box play “Rain Drops”
Price: $48
This glass-doored jewelry cabinet features four small drawers for storage, plus hooks to keep your necklaces organized. The music box key is on the back of the cabinet for easy access.
6. Ebony & Marble Box
Period: Pre-2000
Material: Ebony, marble, brass, & velvet
Features: Purple velvet lining
Price: $65
This is a gorgeously patterned box with brass edging and feet. It is in good vintage condition, with the interior velvet still bright and clean.
7. Japanese Silver Rose & Lattice
Period: Pre-2000
Material: Silver plate
Features: Mirror inside lid
Price: $19
This silver-plated box made in Japan features exquisite lattice-work intermingled with roses and other floral pieces. The inside of the box is velvet-lined with a mirror. Hinges are secure, velvet is clean, this piece is in overall good vintage condition.
8. Mele Walnut Parquet Case
Period: Pre-2000
Material: Wood, glass, and fabric
Features: Lift-out tray & mirror inside lid
Price: $28
A rounded-top lid and curving edges give this box a lovely appeal. This case comes in its original box, with minimal signs of wear, ready for you!
9. Mosaic Inlay Box
Period: Pre-2000
Material: Walnut & fruit woods, mother of pearl
Features: Key & lock, personalize by engraving custom message
Price: $212-238 (personalization costs extra)
An intricate pattern of inlayed fruit woods and mother-of-pearl creates a beautiful effect on this walnut wood box. The inside is lined in red velvet, with a key and lock to secure your treasures!
Are Old Jewelry Boxes Worth Anything?
As is often the case, it’s a spectrum. The mass-produced jewelry boxes of the 50s on, often in plastics, are not going to be worth as much (although they are often in good condition if you’re more looking for an old-fashioned storage container), whereas intricate or unique designs, often from the 1800s to 1940s, are going to be worth more.
Brand names play a part in this too: Mele boxes are collectables because they were such a huge name through the mid-1900s; Centurion boxes are a very familiar design often with a sizeable amount of storage, they were copy-catted quite a bit so genuine Centurions are often more expensive. Boxes associated with specific jewelry brands, Gothic, Tiffany & Co., etc., are generally worth more than the box’s materials and age alone would garner.
In the end: the box’s design and associations will influence the value the most (as well as condition, of course).
