Iron Decorative Boxes

A Swedish Baroque box with original ironwork, key and working lock dated (forged in iron) 1752. This pine wood box, bought in the region of "Dalsland" in Sweden, not far from from No...

Continental burlwood box. 18th century or earlier. Original iron straps. Remnants of a silk lining.

Charming folk art 19th-century country English pine blanket chest or box featuring a Georgian manor house facade on the outside. The storage box has a hinged top and handles on each ...

Bring a touch of nostalgia into your interior with this beautiful, original metal coffee tin by J.C. Dorlas. The bright red tin with gold lettering and a beautiful weathered patina e...

Hailing from Gueux, in the northeast of France, this incombustible cast iron safe was constructed by the French company, Bauche, circa 1870, as indicated by the foliate placard on th...

A very unique decorative jewelry box hand-crafted of black glass, mirror, iron, and geode by Don Drumm, late 20th century. The geode boasts a bevy of brilliant blues, from cerulean t...

An extraordinarily rare and visually striking 16th-century Venetian iron treasure coffer, showcasing the height of Renaissance artistry and engineering. Crafted in the early to mid-1...

We present this beautiful and rare small trunk made in the early 20th century. Made entirely of iron with brass decorations, this trunk has a Gothic-inspired design. A unique decora...

Rare and very beautiful Swedish travel box with stunning patina and hand forged iron details. Working lock and key ( bronze key from the 19th century). Sweden, circa 1750-1800. Weath...

Spanish, 18th century or earlier. An 18th century Spanish bargueno or vargueno traveling desk, used for storing documents, jewels, or sewing box. The six drawer chest is inset with ...

A dark-brown, black antique German coffer made of hand crafted iron, particularized with griffins, torchères and tendril motifs on the wall and pinecone mode on the lid, in good condition. The small detailed decor piece represents the Empire time period...

Wooden coffret, call minnekästchen, engraved with a dog, a hare and foliage with polychromy remains. During the Middle Age, the hare is a symbol of fertility, joy and represents the Christ...

19th century non-combustible cast-iron travel strongbox by Bauche-Fichet, France Antique travel safe in non-combustible cast iron from northeastern France (Gueux, Marne). It is decor...

Public mailbox of the French Post Office Model in molded cast iron manufactured by Delachanal in Paris - Late 19th Century Good general condition - presented in its original conditi...

This is a superb antique goldsmith’s strong box. An English, cast iron locking safe, dating to the Victorian period, circa 1880. Of substantial weight and presence, this heavy safe embodies the durability and craftsmanship of 19th century security design, offering both practical storage and striking decorative appeal. Constructed from robust cast iron, ensuring remarkable strength and longevity Displays a time-worn painted blue finish, contributing to its wonderful aged patina Substantial lid fitted with a robust, articulated handle for confident operation Features a working lock mechanism, protected by a rotating lock cover Painted red interior offers a delightful contrast, beautifully aged with period character Fitted with a pair of side handles, allowing for careful movement despite its considerable weight Proves to be delightfully heavy at a weight of 86.6kg (190.92 lb) Ideal for use as a decorative storage box, strong room piece, or unique coffee table feature Exudes the industrial elegance and solidity associated with Victorian engineering A fine example of 19th century craftsmanship, combining form and function with historical allure A striking Victorian cast iron strong box...

Japanese antique mid size Tansu (chest of drawers), product of circa 1870s - 1900s, late Edo to Meiji era, estimate from the style & conditions. Remaining original paint gives a ...

Charming folk art 19th-century country English pine blanket chest or box featuring a Georgian manor house facade on the outside. The storage box has a hinged top and handles on each ...

Beautiful and rare Gothic Revival treasure box with bronze handle. If you are a collector of antique boxes and/or if you are looking for an extraordinary jewelry box to grace your credenza or side table then this unique and top quality made specimen in the Gothic style could be perfect. Gothic Revival boxes are very hard to find and we have never seen one with such prodigious carvings on all sides. The unique and cat-like dragon gargoyles (with fangs) that look like they are carrying this casket, are just some of the stunningly carved and detailed sculptures that make this antique rarity even more artistic and impressive. Another great feature are the peacock sculptures. In Christianity the peacock is the symbol of purity. Christians believe that once someone has passed their soul rises and goes to heaven. This is why in earlier times Christians would spread the feathers of a peacock over the deceased since it symbolized a pure soul that was immune to corruption. The peacock also represents immortality, resurrection, and the spiritual teachings of Jesus Christ and the Christian church. Have you also noticed the top quality details on both ends of the bronze handle on top? The quality of that ornamental work is of the absolute highest standard also. There are many more incredibly beautiful, hand carved details and together they show that no expense was spared to create one of the most amazing Gothic caskets...

Beautiful handmade oak silver chest. It was made to hold valuables such as silver coins, jewels or maps. This was the precursor to the modern day safe. It is due to its age beautiful...

1930s wooden box with iron corners.

Safe box. Iron. XIX century. Rectangular safe made of iron, with a rectangular base, two handles on the sides and classicist-influenced molding decorations on the fronts and top. It...

A Spanish strong box from the 18th century. This antique safe from is constructed or iron clad wood, and is handsomely adorn in domed iron nailhead trim throughout it's top, front, a...

A rare and magnificent antique Tuareg peoples mixed metal mounted wooden chest / coffer / monumental table box. Most impressive size, hand-crafted in ...

Unique, Large and functional wrought Iron Mailbox. The piece is a functional mailbox with a pull handle in the front, several train cars, with the last being open to hold boxes and ...

A late Georgian pitch pine crate that would off originally been used for transporting a dog on a carriage. In wonderful original condition, with its original green painted finish tha...

French Gothic-style (19/20th Century) oak coffer chest on stand with tracery carved panels and a domed lid with iron strap work

Magnificent and rare Late 18th Century Dutch Colonial decorative box. Striking Dutch design from the 1790s. Made out of Slavonian solid oak with original patinated iron handles and l...

The iron coffer, fully original in every part of it, was forged and handcrafted in German in the 1610. Complete with key. Full working iron mechanisms. It ...

A beautiful casket form cast iron and bronze dresser box, jewelry box, cigar box, or decorative box with interior cedar lining. The front depicts a scene from the 1219 Battle of Lynd...

Rare Gothic forged iron casket, made in France in the mid-15th century, displaying remarkable ironwork and openwork decoration characteristic of the late medieval period. The rectang...

Step into a realm of sophisticated display with this Vintage Hollywood Regency Brass and Glass Terrarium, an exceptional piece that exudes timeless elegance. Crafted with a delicate ...

Mid 19th Century Swedish Folk Art Travel box from Skellefteå Västerbotten, Northern Sweden. Beautiful untouched original paint. Dated 1858 Decorated with handwrought iron around the ...

19th century most rare and unusual original painted miniature bible box with original painted surface and gilding. This early gem has original iron hi...

Mid 18th century hand painted traditional Swedish chest/box circa 1750. Stunning traditional Swedish box hand painted in the original paintwork.   Decorated on all sides with swags ...

A charming antique 19th century British pine document box with iron handles, monogrammed L.B. Elliott on a brass plaque on the top. Handcrafted with solid dovetail construction and a...

19th century ball-shaped iron box with hook for hanging.

An extremely rare pair of Regency cast-iron sarcophagus shaped strong boxes. Regency, circa 1820 Painted to simulate palisander wood and with parcel-gilt, the cavetto-moulded hinged lids cast with flower sprays above foliate-cast bands over front panels relieved with river gods within canted corners cast with standing muses, the sides with lion mask and ring handles over leafy aprons on massive lion’s paw feet; the Brahmah type lock stamped “T. Davis from London” and impressed with the Royal Crown. These extraordinary pieces are modelled on Regency wine coolers. The forms are classic Greco-Roman revival with the boat-hook handles, mythic figures and the overall sarcophagus pattern. You would struggle to find one let alone a pair. Good items for any collection. Research on going into these strong boxes but we have found possible information on the lock stamped Davis….(historyoflocks ) The relationship of King George III and George Davis of Windsor, who was locksmith in ordinary to His Majesty. Davis, in 1799, invented and patented a unique style of lock, which was also beautifully engraved with a warning not to make duplicate keys. Sensitive government secrets always demanded, then as today, locks that were state of the art. Davis locks ended up on government dispatch boxes...

An asian iron and wood coopered bucket, 19th century. 12 ½ inches iwde by 9 ¼ inches tall

Spanish Colonial style painted and gilt wood table top vargueno, a chest with eight drawers and four doors with iron drop pulls. A sweet little chest with a lot of personality, decor...

Scandinavian 19th century folk art handmade pine box circa 1830. Good quality piece of Swedish woodwork.  These strong boxes would have been used to store the households valuables i...

A rare early 19th century Russian iron-bound box decorated with gilt metal 'Frost' pattern. The beautiful gold panels meant to mimic frost on glass. Retai...

Impressive wrought iron tabletop safe with engraved decoration and original patina. This type of safe was commonly used in the 16th and 17th centuries to hold valuables, alms, or doc...

Antique coffee tin by H. Smith of Groningen, bearing the title of Purveyor to the Royal Household. The original red color with gold-yellow lettering...

Mid 19th century rustic Swedish pine strong box circa 1850. Fine example of a small strong box which people used to keep their valuable’s safe in. Presented in a scraped back condi...

An Italian straw work box decorated everywhere with extraordinary straw-work geometrical marquetry on a wooden structure, coated even inside and at the bottom. This Italian box, has a rectangular shape, hand-realized in an antique abbey...

Note: We highly recommend shipping through 1stDibs for its cost effectiveness, full insurance coverage, and reliable handling. While standard parcel services are an option, the defau...

Leather trunk Spanish, 17th century Boiled Leather, wood and iron Measures: 22 x 53 x 32 cm. Provenance : - collection Metz-Noblat, Château de Clevant, France Rectangular trunk of the form and size of a small suitcase with wrought iron hinges and lock-plate. Wood, covered with leather, cut and embossed with every surface of the thick cow hide covered in interlace, zoomorphic features. The construction method is boiled leather, often referred to by its French translation cuir-bouilli: a process used to change flexible, vegetable-tanned leather into rigid, moulded objects. For shaping of the vegetable-tanned leather, heat and moisture were used, as indicated by the term boiled leather. No written medieval sources describing the production of decorated cuir bouilli objects survive, so knowledge of the process relies on the important studies of the Scottish leather historian John William Waterer. A large range of methods, materials and techniques could be used in various combinations. The vegetable-tanned leather, made supple with moisture and heat, was stuffed, shaped and nailed to the rigid wooden coffer support. The stuffing material was probably modeled beeswax or stearin wax. To shape the leather, to create its topography, « Cushions » were made by lacing a thread through an awl hole and attaching the flexible leather and stuffing to the rigid wooden support on the bottom. Then the decoration was done: lines were incised through the upper layer of the leather (epidermis) with different thicknesses of knives or needles. Contours were created with deep v-shaped cuts, decoration with thin incision and final details with a needle point. For the incision and pouncing stage, the leather was probably kept heated and moistened for suppleness. Once dry, the leather would be hard and rigid. the saturated leather is worked over a form, possibly even damp sand, with the pattern shaped using bone or wooden tools. Compare to metal, leather was lighter and it offered protection from cuts and punctures. Cuir bouilli objects were produced by specialist leather workers and needed skillful craftsmanship. The surface is filled with roundels shaped foliages enclosing animals, lions and peacocks. The foliate arabesques creating a vegetal connection tweet the animals create the impression of a lush verdant space . The vegetal pattern here employed in combination with geometrical pattern came from the pre-islamic artistic traditions of the Byzantine and Sasanian empires. An aspect of Islamic geometry Is the basic symmetrical repetition and mirroring of the shapes that create a sense of harmony. The decoration of this truck is inspired by the islamic « arabesque » a form of vegetal ornament composed of spirals, intertwining plants and abstract curvilinear motifs. An arabesque character is given to the birds of the decorations through extreme stylisation. This arabesque maintained the classical tradition of median symmetry, freedom in Detail and heterogeneity of ornament. The presence of the peacocks is a paradisiacal allusion: in popular Islamic literature they were among the original inhabitants of the garden of Paradise expelled with Adam and Eve. Peacock as a decorative motif may have originated in the West, despite their eastern provenance. There was an ancient belief that the flesh and feathers of peacock do not decay. This led to the peacock becoming a christian symbol for Christ’s resurrection. Renowned for their decorative wall hangings, seventeenth-century Spanish leatherworkers also produced utilitarian objects, such as this trunk. A similar trunk is on display at the Metropolitan museum of art ( 09.158.1). Related literature : Davies L. 2006. Cuir bouilli. Conservation of leather and related materials, 94-102, Oxford: elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann Grabar, Oleg. The Mediation of Ornament. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1992 Gabriela Germana Roquez, "El mueble en el Peru en el siglo XVIII...

Antique folk art box, a so called Forskrin which was used when travelling for storing documents and valuables around the late 1700s. Made in nor...

A good antique English, Charles II (Carolean) period carved oak bible or document box, circa 1680. Such boxes were particularly popular in the 17th century, when printed bibles were very expensive and a treasured family possession. The bible was most likely the only book owned by a family and was also the means of recording births, deaths & marriages which would be written on the flyleaf or endpapers. They were also used to protect other important documents and valuables and were brought to colonial America by early settlers. This bible box dates shortly after the English Civil War & the brief time that England was a Republic (known then as the Commonwealth) under Oliver Cromwell. The box typifies those Puritan values, simple six plank construction with a hinged lid enclosing a storage area for a bible or important documents. The front of the box having a carved foliate twin lunette design with a hand cut steel lock & hasp above, the box is robust & solid & for it's 350 or so years it is in very good condition! This very early antique carved bible box...

This exquisite vintage terrarium, crafted from wrought iron and glass, is a superb example of Hollywood Regency elegance. Its refined design features...

17th Century English Jacobean Carved Oak Bible Box. Period Jacobean solid dark oak bible box from the 17th century. The front is beautifully carved wi...

Mid 19th century Swedish hand painted strong box / chest circa 1850. Good quality example of a Scandinavian strong box, which offers many use's around the home today, such as storag...

Late 19th-century iron money lock box constructed of heavy iron with black painted corners and trim over a green ground. Built with substantial wrought iron throughout, this box woul...

A Rare Carved and Metal Mounted Casket with Remnants of ‘Pastiglia’ Decoration retaining the original lock plate Wood, iron, polychrome Catalonia, Spain 14th Century Size: 17cm ...

This Two Door – Six Drawer Cupboard Maquette offers a rare and revealing glimpse into Jim Rose’s legacy at the level of process and intention. Created during his residency at the Joh...

The item on sale is an iron chest or casket suitable for arts and crafts or as a decorative object. It might have been made in Germany, England or Scottland. The box has been hand cr...

French steel box from the 1930s. Green lacquered case with golden craquelé pattern. The cash register has a classic handle and a key to lock. Painted green in the interior and a shee...

Designed by renowned Mexican industrial designer Diego Mathai for Banamex (Banco Nacional de México), this complete collection of five sculptural banks exemplifies the optimism and m...

A fine example of an English needlework casket from the Charles II period (1660-1685), with silk work exterior panels depicting various figures and animals, a top mirrored compartmen...

Regimental cash box. Iron. Possibly Germany, 18th century. It has faults. Rectangular safe with a flat lid containing the top bolt mechanism (which has a simple mechanism to cover...