What were these boxes used for?

These boxes served secure domestic functions ranging from the storage of legal documents and textiles to the safekeeping of precious spices and household accounts. Their portability allowed owners to transport valuables easily during times of travel or unrest. Smaller lidded variants often sat on tables or hung upon walls to keep everyday necessities away from damp floors and pests. Over time, their utility evolved as domestic architecture incorporated built-in storage, turning them into decorative furnishings.

How do I date an oak box?

Dating relies on examining the construction methods, tool marks left by saws and planes, and the style of any carved ornamentation. Hand- split boards, pegged joints, and wrought iron hardware generally point to seventeenth-century or earlier origins. Later pieces from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries introduce machine-sawn timber, standardised fixings, and different secondary woods like mahogany or deal. Comparing the jointing style against known regional traditions helps narrow the manufacturing period.

How do I care for antique oak?

Antique oak requires a stable indoor environment away from direct heat sources, strong sunlight, and sudden shifts in relative humidity. Excessive dryness causes timber to split, while dampness encourages mould and wood-boring insects. Application of traditional beeswax polish feeds the dry grain and maintains the protective surface layer. Avoid modern silicone sprays, which penetrate the pores and damage the historic patina.

Are these pieces made of solid wood?

Most pieces from the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries utilise solid timber throughout, including the panels, framing, and internal floorboards. Oak was chosen for its abundance, strength, and resistance to warping when properly quarter-sawn. Later nineteenth-century iterations occasionally incorporate secondary woods or plywood in non-structural areas such as drawer linings or back panels. Inspecting the grain direction reveals whether a board was cut from a single solid log.

Brown oak refers to heartwood darkened by a natural fungal process occurring while the living tree stands. This coloration yields deep chocolate and amber tones distinct from standard pale English oak. Furniture makers prized this timber for its rich aesthetic variety and dramatic grain figures. It occurs sporadically, making matched sets or large items particularly striking.

Home > Antiques For Sale > Brown Oak Box > Page 2

Brown Oak Box

336 items · page 2 of 21

← Page 2 of 21 →

A brown oak box brings centuries of dense timber and quiet utility straight into a modern room.

19th century

Save

Stunning Fine Antique 19th Century English Oak Coffer Storage Chest Trunk Box

From Richardsons Antiques

£495

FOR SALE

chests

17th century

Save

Oak Bible Box

From Adrian Hornsey Antiques

£275

FOR SALE

boxes

17th century

Save

Handsome 17th Century Oak Panelled Coffer Box C.1680, Small Proportions

From Charnwood Antiques

£995

FOR SALE

chests

Early 20th Century Folk Art Coffin Shaped Collection Box Dated 1939

1920 - 1940

Save

Early 20th Century Folk Art Coffin Shaped Collection Box Dated 1939

From Folk and Fable Antiques

£125

FOR SALE

boxes

Antique 20th Century Carved Oak Blanket Box | Linenfold Panels

1900 - 1920

Save

Antique 20th Century Carved Oak Blanket Box | Linenfold Panels

From ActFurniture LTD

£295

FOR SALE

chests

1900 - 1920

Save

Novelty Oak Gramophone

From Adrian Hornsey Antiques

£285

FOR SALE

miscellaneous

19th century

Save

Victorian Oak Desk Box

From Wessex Antique Bedsteads

£195

FOR SALE

boxes

18th century

Save

Lovely Early 18th Century Oak Spice Cupboard, Georgian.

From Charnwood Antiques

£1,195

FOR SALE

cupboards

C19th Oak Mule Chest with Double Hinged Top

19th century

Save

C19th Oak Mule Chest with Double Hinged Top

From Beresford Antiques LTD

£395

FOR SALE

chests

Antique Scottish Snuff Box - Blind Mans Table Snuff Box

19th century

Save

Antique Scottish Snuff Box - Blind Mans Table Snuff Box

From Opus Antiques

£375

FOR SALE

boxes

One extraordinary pocket of history survives as an oak snuff box fashioned from timber salvaged after the devastating fire at the Houses of Parliament in 1834.

18th century

Save

18th Century Oak Candle Box

From Elaine Phillips Antiques Ltd

£185

FOR SALE

boxes

1900 - 1920

Save

Small Size Oak Lid Box / Coffer

From James R Millington Antiques

£245

FOR SALE

chests

18th century

Save

Fabulous Antique 18th Century English Oak Bench Settle Hall Seat

From Richardsons Antiques

£695

FOR SALE

furniture

Antique Georgian Style Oak Cupboard | Drop Front

1900 - 1920

Save

Antique Georgian Style Oak Cupboard | Drop Front

From ActFurniture LTD

£685

FOR SALE

chests

17th century

Save

Oak Coffer

From Midwinter Antiques

£595

FOR SALE

chests

17th century

Save

17th Century English Oak Strong Box C. 1640

From Webberley Antiques

£990

FOR SALE

boxes

← 1 2 3 4 5 ... 21 →

Brown Oak Box

Stunning Fine Antique 19th Century English Oak Coffer Storage Chest Trunk Box

Oak Bible Box

Handsome 17th Century Oak Panelled Coffer Box C.1680, Small Proportions

Early 20th Century Folk Art Coffin Shaped Collection Box Dated 1939

Antique 20th Century Carved Oak Blanket Box | Linenfold Panels

Novelty Oak Gramophone

Victorian Oak Desk Box

Lovely Early 18th Century Oak Spice Cupboard, Georgian.

C19th Oak Mule Chest with Double Hinged Top

Antique Scottish Snuff Box - Blind Mans Table Snuff Box

18th Century Oak Candle Box

Small Size Oak Lid Box / Coffer

Fabulous Antique 18th Century English Oak Bench Settle Hall Seat

Antique Georgian Style Oak Cupboard | Drop Front

Oak Coffer

17th Century English Oak Strong Box C. 1640

Add keywords to the filter

Price

Era

Period

Style

Material

Origin

Stock Location

Recently Added

Online Payments

Categories