M.S. Rau Boxes

Lord Nelson Singing Bird Box Karl Griesbaum Circa 1930 Honoring one of Britain's greatest naval heroes, this rare German singing bird automaton takes the form of an elegant silver b...

Champlevé Enameled Bronze Singing Bird Box Circa 1880 Striking in both form and function, this champlevé enameled bronze singing bird box reflects a refined blend of decorative arti...

Jeweled Singing Bird Box Circa 1880 This exquisite enamel and jewel-mounted singing bird box is a captivating example of mechanical artistry. It reflects the height of European luxu...

Roulette Wheel Cigarette Case Van Cleef & Arpels Circa 1935–40 Among the most imaginative creations by Van Cleef & Arpels, this remarkable roulette wheel cigarette case tran...

Singing Bird Box Hallmarked Pest, 1872–1922 This exceptional silver singing bird box unites ingenious automaton engineering with richly detailed enameling. Conceived as a luxury obj...

Guilloché Enamel Case Fabergé Circa 1910 This elegant guilloché enamel case by the House of Fabergé exemplifies the elegance and technical mastery of Imperial Russian objets de vert...

Guilloché Enamel and Gilt-Silver Pill Box Bolin Produced 1882-1899 This Bolin pill box demonstrates the prestigious Russian house’s skill in guilloché enamel and silver work. The surface is adorned with off-white and pink enamel applied over a finely engine-turned ground. Its hinged lid opens to reveal a mirrored top interior. Complete with its original Bolin fitted case, the box is marked “Bolin” with an 88 zolotnik Moscow assay, dating it to the late 19th century. A rare and complete survival, it reflects the high-quality decorative work that established Bolin as a leading firm in Imperial Russia. The House of Bolin of St. Petersburg and Moscow served as jeweler to the Russian Imperial Court for over a century. Renowned for high-quality jewelry, silver and decorative objects, the firm exhibited internationally—including at the 1851 Great Exhibition—and became synonymous with refined craftsmanship for Russia’s aristocracy. Bolin’s silver...

This charming musical jewelry and sewing box is a work of art inside and out. Crafted of rich wood, this chest is adorned with doré bronze details, including lion's paw feet. Inside,...

Crafted by the esteemed artist Franz Wagner, this gilt bronze box with a hand-painted porcelain plaque perfectly embodies the illustrious Vienna Porcelain Manufactory's legacy. Wagne...

A Gold Lacquer Kōbako (Incense Box) Edo Period (1615–1868), Circa 1850 This exquisite gold lacquer kōbako (incense box) exemplifies the refined craftsmans...

Edo-Period Lacquerware Chest 19th-century This exquisite chest, inspired by Hasami-Bako travel trunks, is a striking example of Japanese lacquerware. The hiramaki-e technique—applie...

Gold Étui in Original Case Jacques Martin Petitjean Circa 1777 Expertly engraved entirely of yellow gold, this remarkably rare Louis XVI-era étui is a work of art. Resplendent colum...

This outstanding Swiss cylinder music box was crafted by the prestigious firm of Le Coultre Freres of Geneva. The highly intricate movement plays a selection of twelve popular tunes ...

A marvelous objet d'art is this exquisite Louis XVI-era étui. Crafted entirely of green and yellow gold, this stunning octagonal vessel bears an exceptional, engraved Neoclassical de...

This exceptional micromosaic snuff box represents the heights of this ancient art form. Depicting four doves sitting atop a bronze dish, the inse...

This delightful porcelain and enamel box perfectly exemplifies the esteemed French Limoges tradition. It features a meticulously hand-applied pink and blue floral scene against a bro...

This silver, gold and niello inlaid topographical snuffbox is a masterpiece of Russian silver. Almost owned by a wealthy 19th-century tradesman, this extraordinary creation shares a ...

Incredible hand-painted scenes inspired by Rococo master Antoine Watteau cover this magnificent Meissen porcelain box. Displaying romantic courts...

Seven resplendent Sèvres porcelain plaques surround this magnificent doré bronze box. The bright floral motif on the plaques perfectly matches the intr...

Crafted entirely with an exceptionally detailed enamel technique known as pliqué-à-jour, this French box is a luxurious objet d'art. Exhibiting a subtle translucence like that of sta...

This important German porcelain box exhibits delightful artistry and craftsmanship. Its hand-painted wild game scene celebrates the natural world,...

This 18th-century English snuff box is composed of a beautiful dark hardstone body encased in gold casework mounts. The box opens with a hinged lid, allowing snuff stored inside to b...

This exceptional 19th-century gold box appears at first glance be an exquisite snuff box adorned with a charming Swiss enamel vista encircled by a multitude of natural pearls. A quick wind of the key, however, reveals the complex mechanism hidden inside, and the box plays a wistful tune. Once known as carillons à musique...

Beautiful and rare, this superb silver-mounted cut glass box was crafted by the legendary Russian firm Fabergé. The rounded cut glass box features a diamond pattern, while the hinged...

This early 19th century Swiss gold vinaigrette has the charming addition of a musical mechanism. The entire box is crafted of 14-karat yellow gold envelo...

This mother-of-pearl inlay perfume box is a rare and complete treasure from the famed Palais-Royal of France’s Second Empire. The box is a work of art, meticulously fashioned to deli...

This delightful gold and mother of pearl vinaigrette is ripe with 19th-century charm. Emblazoned with the initials "E.L" for its original owner, the book-shaped vinaigrette almost ce...

Formed entirely of 18K yellow gold polished to a high shine, this sleek case was created by the one and only Cartier. The exterior features a finel...

This Louis XV-period gold-mounted snuff box features lustrous panels of inlaid mother-of-pearl. The whimsical box takes the form of a barrel and features hinged lids on both ends. Di...

This important Louis XV gold snuff box is from the prestigious collection of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. The engine-turned gold box or...

Beautifully rare, this superb silver-mounted cut glass toilette box was crafted by legendary Russian jeweler and artisan Peter Carl Fabergé. The rou...

This French gold cigarette case is a splendid specimen of early 20th century style and refinement. The 18-karat yellow gold accessory is surrounded by exquisite "pinstripe" white enameling with a line of channel-set blue sapphires running along the façade and thumb press. Smoking accessories...

This exquisite French pill box combines the mastery of the French goldsmithing tradition with the radiance of citrine. The box was crafted by the celebrated French jeweler Gustave-Roger Sandoz, who was renowned for producing exceptional pieces with a variety of gems in the Art Nouveau style. In this example, he brilliantly combined pieces of highly translucent, golden citrine with gold to create the exquisite box. The texture of the carving is exceptional, with a natural and dynamic motif that evokes the very best tenets of the Art Nouveau style. The gold rim is further decorated with tiny beads, while a pearl-mounted gold leaf finial completes the exceptional piece. Maison Gustave Sandoz...

This exceptional singing bird cylinder music box is a wonder of Austrian mechanical ingenuity. Not only does it play a selection of classical airs with remarkable tone and clarity, but its lush sound is accompanied by a colorful, singing bird automaton...

This exceptional Swiss silver-gilt musical snuff box was crafted by the famed François Nicole. At first glance, the diminutive piece appears to simpl...

This enchanting green glass and silver casket from renowned French art glass company Daum evokes the verdant lushness of a summer garden. Finely detailed silver clovers and vines encircle rich green glass in this luminescent and highly unique piece. Daum has been one of the most important names in French art glass since the late 19th century. Employing a team of talented artists, the firm produced both commercial glass and singular pieces of outstanding quality. Daum glass was first produced in about 1872, manufacturing plate glass and tableware for the French market in Nancy, and it was in 1890 that Auguste and Antonin Daum...

This special and important Swiss gold music box is chased and engraved with a set of musical instruments surrounded by elaborate swirls of ornate foliage. Embossed with a delightful braided gold design, the two-compartment box features an exquisite oval agate key, which opens a recessed lock in the base of the box. Such a box would have been a prized possession and would have been able to fit neatly into a gentleman’s waistcoat pocket. Ingenious miniature portable devices, musical snuff boxes...

A wonderful English coromandel travel case, or necessaire de voyage, boasts toiletries adorned with Victorian silver, cut crystal, and mother-of-p...

Trimmed in elegant yellow gold is this polished English agate snuff box. Distinguished by the dynamic patterning of the agate, the exquisite vessel i...

This charming musical jewelry and sewing box is a work of sublime artistry. Almost certainly German or Austrian in origin and crafted of deep, ebonized...

A marvelously carved chinoiserie motif adorns the lid of this incredible 19th-century French tabatière or snuff box. The charming scene is intricately crafted in the form of a boating figure who holds aloft an umbrella formed of yellow gold, while the box itself is crafted from attractive brown hardstone mounted with stunning yellow gold "waves." Enchanting and beautifully executed, the rare snuff box is an incredible example of the creative artistry of these delightful boxes, as well as the highly popular chinoiserie style. Inhaling snuff, or snuffing, as it is also called, was a popular social ritual among the European elite from the 16th through the 19th centuries. Over these 300 years, master artisans created and designed elegant snuff boxes using...

This rare brass box would have been a coveted contraption in the finest English pubs of the 18th and 19th centuries. Known as an “honesty” box, the rectang...

Magnificent layers and inlays of multi-colored mother-of-pearl cover each side of this breathtaking German snuff box. Each incredibly detailed scene is framed by finely engraved yell...

This important German porcelain snuff box exhibits delightful artistry and craftsmanship. Hand painted classical tableau celebrating the e...

This intriguing Chinese zhadou is intricately carved of fine cinnabar lacquer. A work of exceptional artistry, this covered bowl is adorned with an intricately carved floral motif on all surfaces, including the cover and the wide rim. Also known as a cuspidor or spittoon, this rare container would have been used by members of the imperial family and scholar- officials at the court. Carved during the Kangxi period (1662-1722), this charming piece exhibits the high detail and charm associated with items from that period, making it a true treasure, Early 18th century (Kangxi dynasty) Measures: 6 ¼” wide x 3 ¼” high Cinnabar has been revered for its color all over the world. It has been found in the royal burial chambers of the Mayas, in the rituals of India, and in the ruins of ancient Greece and Rome. In China, cinnabar and gold were the two most important elements in alchemy. Mined since the Neolithic Age, cinnabar is the ore of mercury, and as such, it can be incredibly toxic, especially when mining. In fact, during the Roman Empire, miners at Spain’s Almadén mine in Spain were frequently exposed to mercury fumes, and the subsequent, often fatal, sickness was considered an occupational hazard. The most popular known use of cinnabar is in Chinese carved lacquer-ware, a technique that is believed to have originated in the Song Dynasty, in which cinnabar is ground to a powder and added to clear lacquer. As with mining, there was inherent danger of mercury poisoning for those who carved the lacquer, as mercury was also released into the air when artisans ground the pigments. Most antique cinnabar...

A work of extraordinary craftsmanship, this exquisite English vanity case is as much an item of luxury as it is of necessity. Known as a nécessaire de voyage...

A musical movement distinguishes this wonderful early 19th-century gold vinaigrette box. The vessel is covered in delicate engraving highlighted by bl...

This captivating Palais Royal sewing nécessaire is crafted of engraved mother of pearl mounted in rich doré bronze. The hinged box contains a remov...