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 5

Antique Work Boxes

112 items · page 5 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.

Mid 18th Century Swedish Pine Baroque Metal Bound Box

19th century

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Mid 18th Century Swedish Pine Baroque Metal Bound Box

From Debenham Antiques Ltd

£850

FOR SALE

boxes

19th century

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Figured Walnut Work Box 1880

From Michael Johnson Antiques

£370

FOR SALE

boxes

Art Deco Satinwood & Walnut Work Box Table, C1930

1920 - 1940

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Art Deco Satinwood & Walnut Work Box Table, C1930

From Art Deco World

£850

FOR SALE

boxes

19th century

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Victorian Box, in Rosewood C 1880

From Minerva Antiques Ltd

£360

FOR SALE

boxes

19th century

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19th Century Swedish Hand Painted Oak Strong Box

From Debenham Antiques Ltd

£1,895

FOR SALE

boxes

19th century

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Regency Hand Painted Card or Games Box

From Christopher Buck Antiques Ltd.

£975

FOR SALE

boxes

19th century

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Antique Teapoy, English, William Iv, Rosewood, Work Box, 19th Century Circa 1835

From London Fine Antiques

£2,250

FOR SALE

boxes

Quality Antique William IV Rosewood Work Box

19th century

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Quality Antique William IV Rosewood Work Box

From London City Antiques

£1,285

FOR SALE

boxes

Antique Hand-painted Jennens & Bettridge Jewellery Box C.1850

19th century

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Antique Hand-painted Jennens & Bettridge Jewellery Box C.1850

From Puckerings

£2,995

FOR SALE

boxes

A Very Fine Georgian Mahogany Snuff Box in the Shape of a Shoe

18th century

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A Very Fine Georgian Mahogany Snuff Box in the Shape of a Shoe

From Gerard Robinson Fine Art and Antiques

£250

FOR SALE

boxes

The most expensive work box ever sold on Sellingantiques was a tartan ware box holding Scott's poetical works, made around 1870. It sold in January 2017.

Beautiful Rosewood Marquetry Inlaid Box.

19th century

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Beautiful Rosewood Marquetry Inlaid Box.

From Koos Limburg Jnr. Scotland

£290

FOR SALE

boxes

19th century

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Regency Rosewood Work Box 1830

From Michael Johnson Antiques

£390

FOR SALE

boxes

Antique Watchmaker's Cabinet, English, Tabletop Work Chest, Victorian, C.1860

19th century

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Antique Watchmaker's Cabinet, English, Tabletop Work Chest, Victorian, C.1860

From London Fine Antiques

£1,275

FOR SALE

boxes

Antique English Victorian Papier-mâché Ladies Jewellery Casket

19th century

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Antique English Victorian Papier-mâché Ladies Jewellery Casket

From Applecross Antiques

£1,850

FOR SALE

boxes

19th century

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19th Century Brass Bound Burr Wood Amboyna Box

From Richard Anthony Rush Antiques

£175

FOR SALE

boxes

Antique Victorian Rosewood Inlaid Sarcophagus Shaped Sewing Box

19th century

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Antique Victorian Rosewood Inlaid Sarcophagus Shaped Sewing Box

From The Antique Shop

£345

FOR SALE

boxes

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Antique Work Boxes

Mid 18th Century Swedish Pine Baroque Metal Bound Box

Figured Walnut Work Box 1880

Art Deco Satinwood & Walnut Work Box Table, C1930

Victorian Box, in Rosewood C 1880

19th Century Swedish Hand Painted Oak Strong Box

Regency Hand Painted Card or Games Box

Antique Teapoy, English, William Iv, Rosewood, Work Box, 19th Century Circa 1835

Quality Antique William IV Rosewood Work Box

Antique Hand-painted Jennens & Bettridge Jewellery Box C.1850

A Very Fine Georgian Mahogany Snuff Box in the Shape of a Shoe

Beautiful Rosewood Marquetry Inlaid Box.

Regency Rosewood Work Box 1830

Antique Watchmaker's Cabinet, English, Tabletop Work Chest, Victorian, C.1860

Antique English Victorian Papier-mâché Ladies Jewellery Casket

19th Century Brass Bound Burr Wood Amboyna Box

Antique Victorian Rosewood Inlaid Sarcophagus Shaped Sewing Box

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