What wood are most work boxes made from?

Rosewood and walnut dominate. Between them they account for 58 titles in the archive, more than a quarter of the category, with mahogany in 14 and coromandel in 10. Burr and figured versions of rosewood and walnut are singled out in another 27 titles. Satinwood, amboyna, birdseye maple and burr yew turn up as well, in smaller numbers.

How are these boxes usually dated?

Loosely. Only 60 of 226 listings carry a clean year, and the single commonest entry is the bucket "19th Century", used 60 times. That covers everything from Regency to late Victorian. Below it sit Victorian, Regency, Georgian and 18th Century, then decade tags such as the 1850s, 1800s and 1880s. Dating is also inconsistent between fields, so a title's period word and the date entry are worth reading together.

Do work boxes still have their fittings inside?

Some do. Titles mentioning a fitted interior, a lifting tray, silk lining or surviving contents sit toward the higher end of the range. But only a few listings say anything about the inside at all, so a complete fitted interior isn't the norm across the category.

Are Indian work boxes common in this category?

They're a steady minority, roughly one in eight. Indian appears in 13 titles and Anglo-Indian in 11. The named types include sadeli micro-mosaic, Vizagapatam boxes faced in horn and ivory, sandalwood, Ceylon walnut and a Ceylonese porcupine quill box that appears once and nowhere else.

Why are writing slopes and tea caddies listed as work boxes?

Because dealers use "work" for the box form and for the needlework function alike. Around one listing in five is an adjacent object. Writing slopes, tea caddies, games and stationery boxes, strong boxes and a few work tables all appear under the heading.

How many work boxes come up on Sellingantiques?

Around 25 a year, and 109 different dealers have handled one. That means almost every dealer carrying them carries only one or two, rather than the category sitting with a handful of specialists.

Home > Boxes > Work Boxes > Page 4

Antique Work Boxes

112 items · page 4 of 7

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A work box is a portable lidded wooden box, roughly table-top size, fitted inside to hold sewing tools and materials, and often used for jewellery and keepsakes as well.

Art Deco French Work Box on Stand, Circa 1930

1920 - 1940

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Art Deco French Work Box on Stand, Circa 1930

From Art Deco World

£795

FOR SALE

boxes

Beautiful Victorian Inlaid Burr Walnut Box

19th century

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Beautiful Victorian Inlaid Burr Walnut Box

From The Dorking Desk Shop

£235

FOR SALE

boxes

19th century

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Regency Parquetry Inlaid Games Box

From Jane Short Antiques

£445

FOR SALE

boxes

A Fine Large Japanese Circular Bronze Box the Lid Is Finely Worked with Mixed Metal of Silver Gold and Bronze

19th century

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A Fine Large Japanese Circular Bronze Box the Lid Is Finely Worked with Mixed Metal of Silver Gold and Bronze

From Gerard Robinson Fine Art and Antiques

£1,275

FOR SALE

boxes

Antique William IV Quality Figured Mahogany Work Box

19th century

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Antique William IV Quality Figured Mahogany Work Box

From London City Antiques

£1,485

FOR SALE

boxes

19th century

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Walnut Domed Brass Bound Box C1860

From Shaun King Antiques

£385

FOR SALE

boxes

A Regency Period Birdseye Maple Lidded Work Box

19th century

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A Regency Period Birdseye Maple Lidded Work Box

From John Beazor Antiques

£1,250

FOR SALE

boxes

19th century

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19th C Rosewood Work Box

From Mytton Antiques - Jerrard Nares

£990

FOR SALE

boxes

19th century

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Walnut Table Box C.1900

From Michael Johnson Antiques

£220

FOR SALE

boxes

Wonderful Antique English Penwork Sewing Box / Basket C.1820

19th century

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Wonderful Antique English Penwork Sewing Box / Basket C.1820

From Puckerings

£1,475

FOR SALE

boxes

Rosewood and walnut fill more than a quarter of the work box titles on Sellingantiques, and burr or figured versions of the two are named in another twenty-seven.

19th century

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19th Century Coromandel-wood and Mother-of-pearl Inlaid Fitted Sewing Box

From Quiet Street Antiques of Bath

£675

FOR SALE

boxes

19th century

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Antique Boulle Box by Lund of Cornhill

From Ropeworks Antiques

£395

FOR SALE

boxes

Antique Italian Sorrento Ware Olive Wood Casket 19th C

19th century

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Antique Italian Sorrento Ware Olive Wood Casket 19th C

From Regent Antiques

£1,550

FOR SALE

boxes

19th century

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Large 19th Century Sandalwood Jewellery Box, South India

From H & H Gallery

£2,800

FOR SALE

boxes

William IV Sarcophagus-shaped Rosewood Jewellery Box

19th century

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William IV Sarcophagus-shaped Rosewood Jewellery Box

From Georgian Antiques

£440

FOR SALE

boxes

18th century

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Late 18th Century Scandinavian Metal Bound Box

From Debenham Antiques Ltd

£1,450

FOR SALE

boxes

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Antique Work Boxes

Art Deco French Work Box on Stand, Circa 1930

Beautiful Victorian Inlaid Burr Walnut Box

Regency Parquetry Inlaid Games Box

A Fine Large Japanese Circular Bronze Box the Lid Is Finely Worked with Mixed Metal of Silver Gold and Bronze

Antique William IV Quality Figured Mahogany Work Box

Walnut Domed Brass Bound Box C1860

A Regency Period Birdseye Maple Lidded Work Box

19th C Rosewood Work Box

Walnut Table Box C.1900

Wonderful Antique English Penwork Sewing Box / Basket C.1820

19th Century Coromandel-wood and Mother-of-pearl Inlaid Fitted Sewing Box

Antique Boulle Box by Lund of Cornhill

Antique Italian Sorrento Ware Olive Wood Casket 19th C

Large 19th Century Sandalwood Jewellery Box, South India

William IV Sarcophagus-shaped Rosewood Jewellery Box

Late 18th Century Scandinavian Metal Bound Box

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