These boxes are possibly one of the most iconic box designs in jewellery history. He famously told The New York Sun in 1906 that he would happily give a customer one for free, as long as they selected a design to put in it. People would go to the Tiffany store on Fifth Avenue asking to buy the boxes, but proprietor Charles Lewis Tiffany refused to sell them for any price. This box soon became as famous as the ring itself. The Tiffany blue box was first introduced in 1886, to house the Tiffany Setting Engagement Ring. What a welcome contrast to the mass produced boxes that we see in jewellery today! Despite being over 200 years old, these mini treasure chests continue to stand the test of time. They were often coated in Moroccan leather and ‘tooled and gilded’ with wood underneath. In particular, Georgian ring boxes are enjoying huge popularity right now. In short, jewellery boxes are far more than just storage and protection. When we see the intricate logos of these retailers stamped into the silk interiors, we can’t help but imagine how these shops may have been back in the day. Likewise, original boxes also tell us who the retailer was. Many boxes have initials engraved on them that can help trace the contents back to their original owner. Like the jewellery itself, boxes often tell their own unique story. Antique jewellery boxes are another way of standing out from the crowd – of feeling a connection to something deeper. Well, in a social media saturated society, there’s never been more of a craving for individuality. Some of our antique boxes that were clearly made for the pieces inside The growing appetite for newly affordable jewellery led to an increased demand for jewellery boxes – often smaller and more pocket-sized for a new type of consumer. It wasn’t until the Industrial Revolution that jewellery boxes became mass market. The concept of collecting became popular in the Victorian era, so jewellery boxes helped to store and show off items of interest in affluent homes. One-of-a-kind boxes, unique to the owner and encrusted with precious metals, became a status symbol for Royalty and high society. A New Kingdom jewellery box, circa 1492–1473 BC (Met Museum)įor much of history, jewellery boxes have been a luxury for the privileged few that needed storage for their jewellery. The upper echelons of Roman society used jewellery boxes to store and protect everyday items of jewellery, such as fibulas (brooches for fastening garments). Jewellery boxes date back to 5000BC when Egyptian men and women would fashion fantastic boxes out of gold and set them with stones such as turquoise, onyx and lapis lazuli.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |