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 > Brown Oak Box > Page 7

Brown Oak Box

330 items · page 7 of 21

← Page 7 of 21 →

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

Br082 17th/18th Century British Oak Salt Box with Original Iron Hardware & Red Paint Traces

17th century

Save

Br082 17th/18th Century British Oak Salt Box with Original Iron Hardware & Red Paint Traces

From Whites Antiques

£625

3+ MONTHS AGO

boxes

18th century

Save

A Rare Late 18th Century Miniature Oak Box.

From Christian Davies Antiques Ltd

£385

3+ MONTHS AGO

boxes

17th century

Save

Good Late 17th Century English Oak Coffer

From Stalham Antique Gallery

£350

3+ MONTHS AGO

chests

18th century

Save

18th Century English Oak Hanging Spice Cupboard

From Earl and Rymer

£895

3+ MONTHS AGO

cupboards

17th century

Save

17thc Oak Coffer

From Helios and Co Antiques

£595

3+ MONTHS AGO

chests

19th century

Save

Small Welsh Box Settle C.1800

From Collinge Antiques

£995

3+ MONTHS AGO

furniture

17th century

Save

Late 17th Century Octagonal Commode Stool

From Spitalfields House

£680

3+ MONTHS AGO

furniture

Arts and Crafts Jack Grimble Pollard Oak Coffer Chest

1920 - 1940

Save

Arts and Crafts Jack Grimble Pollard Oak Coffer Chest

From Mark Jones Antiques

£950

3+ MONTHS AGO

chests

Mappin & Webb Sterling Silver and Oak Cigar or Trinket Box

19th century

Save

Mappin & Webb Sterling Silver and Oak Cigar or Trinket Box

From Piers Rankin Antique Silver

£425

3+ MONTHS AGO

boxes

18th century

Save

Oak Coffer C1760

From The Real Wood Furniture Company

£650

3+ MONTHS AGO

chests

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.

17th century

Save

Seventeenth Century Carved Oak Coffer

From Reindeer Antiques

£2,850

3+ MONTHS AGO

chests

17th century

Save

Charming 17th Century William and Mary Oak Side Table

From Mersham Manor Antiques

£595

3+ MONTHS AGO

furniture

18th century

Save

18th Century Carved Oak Coffer

From Rawlings Antiques

£495

3+ MONTHS AGO

chests

An Antique Welsh Chip Carved Book Snuff Box- Heart Inlay

18th century

Save

An Antique Welsh Chip Carved Book Snuff Box- Heart Inlay

From Opus Antiques

£385

3+ MONTHS AGO

boxes

1900 - 1920

Save

Oak Hall Stand Hats and Coats

From James R Millington Antiques

£275

3+ MONTHS AGO

furniture

19th century

Save

Antique 19th Century Oak Coffer on Stand

From Penderyn Antiques

£650

3+ MONTHS AGO

chests

← 1 ... 5 6 7 8 9 ... 21 →

Brown Oak Box

Br082 17th/18th Century British Oak Salt Box with Original Iron Hardware & Red Paint Traces

A Rare Late 18th Century Miniature Oak Box.

Good Late 17th Century English Oak Coffer

18th Century English Oak Hanging Spice Cupboard

17thc Oak Coffer

Small Welsh Box Settle C.1800

Late 17th Century Octagonal Commode Stool

Arts and Crafts Jack Grimble Pollard Oak Coffer Chest

Mappin & Webb Sterling Silver and Oak Cigar or Trinket Box

Oak Coffer C1760

Seventeenth Century Carved Oak Coffer

Charming 17th Century William and Mary Oak Side Table

18th Century Carved Oak Coffer

An Antique Welsh Chip Carved Book Snuff Box- Heart Inlay

Oak Hall Stand Hats and Coats

Antique 19th Century Oak Coffer on Stand

Add keywords to the filter

Price

Era

Period

Style

Material

Origin

Stock Location

Recently Added

Online Payments

Categories