Irina's Blog

What’s in a jewellery box? History, different box kinds from around the world, tips on choosing one and different decorating techniques.

January 12, 2012

Turquoise Box & Necklace I absolutely love jewellery boxes. I’ve always brought one from one travels and could never pass a pretty one on the store shelf. I think the appeal of the jewellery box is that it is as much a work of art and beauty, if not more so, than the jewellery that you can store in it. And you can never have too many jewellery boxes, as there are always beautiful jewels and trinkets that you can store in them. I also think that a beautiful jewellery box can decorate the interior space as much as any other décor item such as a statuette or a flower arrangment. Finally, jewellery boxes make a great gift for all the above reasons!

History

Since I’m a history buff, I decided to look into the jewellery box history. I learned some interesting facts and curiosities. Here are the highlights…

Jewellery boxes have been popular since the pharaohs ruled ancient Egypt. The jewellery box was initially known as ‘jewellery casket’ as the Egyptians had the habit of hiding their jewellery in ceramic jars when they set out on a journey.

The Renaissance and Elizabethan eras saw a marked rise in demand for handmade jewellery cabinets and handmade jewellery boxes. Even though different types of metals are used to make jewellery boxes, wood is the favourite because of its earthy feel and pliable nature.

Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, redecorated her residence, “le grand apartment de la reine”, with many intricate and expensive pieces of furniture. A monumental jewellery cabinet which the queen kept in her boudoir, was gifted by the talented Jean-Ferdinand-Schwerdfeger, famously called the ‘Art Carpenter’.

Jewellery boxes slowly became popular heirlooms to be handed down to the next generation, and also collected by travellers as souvenirs of their visit to exotic places. International trade and travel opened new doors to decorative styles all over the globe. A beautifully crafted wooden jewellery box was a very precious and rare art piece that was treasured for hundreds of years. A superbly crafted wooden box made of high quality wood can retain its charm over several centuries. It reawakens forgotten memories and serves as a relic of the past.

During the early 1900s, Art Nouveau was all the rage and so it was also the most desirable decorative style for jewellery boxes. This romantic design was famous for its flowing, asymmetrical lines containing motifs related to nature. Artists also employed the use of flowers on Art Nouveau-designed jewellery boxes. For instance, the four-leafed clover represented good luck; daisies were used for innocence; and roses symbolized love and beauty.

During the Industrial Revolution, the concept of mass production enabled the newly established middle class of society to purchase items such as jewellery boxes, in addition to other luxury items. As jewellery boxes were being manufactured in bulk, the cost involved to produce them, as well as the cost to the consumer, was considerably less. What was considered a luxury item could now by enjoyed by the masses.

Jewellery boxes from around the world

Jewellery boxes come in a wide variety of styles and made from a variety of materials – wood, leather, silk/fabrics, papier mache, ceramic, metal, etc. During my travels I've acquired some beautiful boxes, here are some of the highlights from my collection:

Russian painted papier mache boxes (Fedoskino, Palekh and Mstera)
Czech birch bark carved boxes
Italian inlaid wood boxes
Swiss musical boxes
Egyptian mother of pearl inlaid boxes
Japanese mother of pearl inlaid boxes
Caribbean ceramic/pottery boxes

These beautiful boxes have inspired me to create my own jewellery box creations, decorated by hand.

How to choose a jewellery box – 5 useful tips

Keep your entire jewelry collection in mind. Consider what pieces make up your jewelry collection. Are there more necklaces than earrings? Do you own more silver or gold pieces? Choose a jewelry box that fits the type of jewellery in your collection and showcases the beauty of your pieces.
Choose a box that has enough room for each piece you have. Select a jewelry box that allows enough room for each piece in your jewellery collection. If your jewellery pieces are stored too closely together, they may get spoiled and tangled.
Consider two boxes rather than one. Depending on the size of your jewelry collection, it might be a good idea to separate the pieces into two or more boxes. For example, if you own equal amounts of gold and silver pieces, choose two boxes, one for each type. Trying to force an entire collection into one box can make it appear cluttered and mismatched. You can also separate your jewellery by colour, size and/or style into different boxes.
Diversify your jewellery box collection. Get a different box from the ones you already have. Look out for a unique and interesting style you’ll enjoy.
Match your jewellery box style to your interior. Jewellery boxes are not only beautiful storage containers, they also add a decorative element to your interior. Make sure your jewellery box will match your interior style and won’t clash with its style and colour scheme.

Decorating styles and techniques

I decorate wooden and papier boxes in a variety of styles and with different decorating media. I love decorating different boxes, creating different themes, using different decorating media and playing with a variety of colours – it’s so much fun! Here are some examples of my work in different decorating styles. Have a look and you might want to get one for yourself (I've included links for boxes available for sale on this site) or may be it will inspire you to create one of your own beautifully-decorated boxes.

Mosaic Boxes

Blue & White Mosaic Box Gold & Choco Box