April 2022 Tanners Antique Show Newsletter, Jewelry Boxes

HAPPY EASTER!

I hope this finds you Hoppy :-)

Our next show is May 7th and 8th

We have a few open vendor spaces

If you want to be a vendor.

If you think you are signed up, please check the attending vendors list

CLICK HERE FOR THE VENDORS PAGE

The Magic of Santa - Christmas in July

Craft Faire vendor signups are open

Click Here for the MOS vendor page

Upcoming Shows

Local Craft Shows info can be found at RenoCrafters - Click Here

2022 Schedule

May 7,8

MOS Christmas in July

Craft show July 9,10

July 16,17 • Sept 24,25

Nov 19,20

Magic of Santa Crafts Dec 3,4

The Fallon Just Country Friends - Block Party

Antique show is May 14th and 15th

727 W. Williams Ave. 775-423-3315

They probably have open vendor spots

See you there :-)

Click the link below to go to the website for more information.

Click Here for the Tanne rs Marketplace Website

Click Here for the Magic of Santa Website

We look forward to seeing everyone at the shows!

The Beauty and Allure of Antique Jewelry Boxes

Viennese Austrian Enameled Jewelry Cabinet

KEEPERS OF HISTORY AND MEMORIES

19th Century French Bronze and Enamel

How and where jewelry is stored has always been as important to jewelry lovers as owning jewelry pieces. From the earliest times when these boxes resembled treasure chests, one stored jewelry more for safekeeping than to preserve the quality of these pieces.

In modern times, storing jewelry focuses on separating the pieces rather than keeping them safe. Therefore, modern jewelry boxes rarely feature a lock mechanism or security feature.

Sterling over Wood

Body adornments were among the earliest archeological discoveries, indicating that humans have always been interested in adornments. The ancient Egyptians believed that jewelry had a spiritual significance and that certain types of jewelry would benefit them in the afterlife. Most, if not all, Egyptians possessed jewelry. Skilled craftsmen fashioned intricately designed boxes made of gold decorated with precious stones. Consequently, each jewelry box was as unique as the high-status individual for whom it was created. In comparison, the lower-class Egyptians would have used decorative wooden boxes made from reed to store their jewelry. Jewelry boxes were necessary for every Egyptian, regardless of their social status, rich or poor.

In ancient Rome, jewelry was a rare luxury. Possession of jewelry symbolized status, with only the upper echelon permitted to wear it. Again, the elites used delicate brooches to hold clothing and ornate rings to show class. Jewelry boxes were required to store them. Having enough jewelry that required keeping was a rare privilege bestowed upon only a few royalties and high-society members.

16th-century jewelry boxes were often exquisitely crafted and decorated with gems. Some of these finished boxes were even more valuable than the jewelry they held. Each box was individually handcrafted using gold, silver, and even ivory. These jewelry boxes were not only as beautiful or more beautiful than the pieces they held, but they also served the purpose of protecting the valuable items they held from dirt and grime.

Tibet Silver Filigree Gem 24K Gold Inlay gem Bird God Treasure chest jewelry box

There was an increase in trinket boxes in the early 18th century; these were much smaller than jewelry boxes but still the ideal size for storing jewelry. Artisans decorated the tops of these boxes in a variety of styles. There were flowers, birds, and other delicate motifs used. Manufacturers of these boxes used various materials, including gold, iron, wood, stone, porcelain, and paper mache, to make them. The popularity of trinket boxes grew with the emergence of porcelain ware, enameling, and art metals, and they became a must-have item among the elite.

During the Industrial Revolution, jewelry boxes became affordable items. In addition, fine jewelry also become more affordable. As a result, jewelry boxes, which were once a treasured item only the royals, elites, and aristocrats acquired, began to lose their value due to mass production.

Imperial Russian Faberge - Gold, Silver, Enamel Trinket Box

ANTIQUE JEWELRY BOXES TODAY

Antique jewelry boxes make excellent collectors’ items; many are as lovely as the treasures they once held. Moreover, these miniature treasure chests have withstood the test of time. They are, therefore, a welcome substitute for the mass-produced boxes seen in jewelry today.

Swiss Black Forest Jewelry Box

Like the jewelry they hold, antique jewelry boxes frequently tell their own unique story. Nothing beats discovering a Georgian or Victorian piece of jewelry in its original box for a jewelry collector. The fitted velvet interior, brightly colored silk-lined lid, and quality leather exterior, burnished by age and the makers’ mark printed inside the top, can help us trace them back to their original owners and identify the retailer.

Charles Reuge, a Swiss who also invented musical watches, popularized musical jewelry boxes. After WWII, many American soldiers returned home with these Swiss musical jewelry boxes for their sweethearts. Then, in the 1950s, American designer Mele created a new version of the musical jewelry box for children. This ballerina jewelry box made its way onto many a child’s wish list.

In the early 1900s, art metal jewelry boxes were popular. The boxes were made of various metals: electroplated gold, silver, copper, Ivory enamel, and a zinc-based alloy. Despite being mass-produced, these jewelry pieces are becoming increasingly scarce due to the deterioration of their materials over time. If found complete, these sets are scarce because parts break incredibly quickly, and the finishes wear off.

Commemorative designs and motifs created for specific events are other types of rare jewelry boxes. Because of their humble beginnings, these boxes were frequently thrown away or abandoned in attics or basements. The rarer the jewelry box, the more unusual or historic the event.

However, some collectors today place a high value on these commemorative boxes.

Tramp art was a popular type of folk art in the United States from the late 1800s to World War II. The creators of Tramp Art Boxes used materials, such as cigar boxes, and embellished them with shells, pebbles, glass, nails, or screws, to create various items, including jewelry boxes. These cigar boxes were disassembled and reassembled to create beautiful objects. Unfortunately, these boxes were fragile and quickly shattered if not handled with care.

American Tramp Art example

As Art Deco became popular in the twentieth century, Art Deco jewelry boxes were made from available artificial materials. For example, a box could be made of ivory, leather, horn, alabaster, or even bone, depending on the area and the availability of materials.

The 20th and 21st centuries marked a transition in design from the previous centuries. Art Nouveau had a significant impact on jewelry boxes and flourished in Europe and the United States. This style is easily distinguishable by its clean, sleek lines, and the emphasis is placed more on function than form. This new way of looking at art represented freedom and a return to nature. Beautiful themes of nature and floral patterns were painted on jewelry boxes to give them a softer, more feminine appearance.

The boxes were made of various metals: electroplated gold, silver, copper, Ivory enamel, and a zinc-based alloy. Despite being mass-produced, these jewelry pieces are becoming increasingly scarce due to the deterioration of their materials over time. If found complete, these sets are scarce because parts break incredibly quickly, and the finishes wear off.

Art Nouveau Jewelry Caskets

CHOOSING ANTIQUE JEWELRY BOXES

When it comes to collecting antique jewelry boxes, boxes with intricate or unique designs, often from the 1800s to the 1940s, will be worth more than mass-produced jewelry boxes from the 1950s, frequently made of plastic.

Another point to note when determining an antique jewelry box’s value is quality. A collector should prioritize quality over all else. In the end, the box’s design and associations will influence the value the most. But, of course, its condition is also essential.

So, whether you want to organize your treasures or store precious heirlooms, add a dash of style to your dresser or vanity, or are a collector looking to start or grow your existing collection, you can’t go wrong with buying vintage jewelry boxes.

These photos are just a tiny fraction of what you can find. There are boxes for every taste, size and style.

Thank you:

https://www.worthpoint.com/articles/collectibles/exploring-the-history-beauty-and-allure-of-antique-jewelry-boxes