Biedermeier Wooden Jewelry Box in Walnut with Inlays, 1850

Details

Description

Solid wood box, humidor, jewelry box, storage box made of walnut with inlays, Biedermeier or Late Biedermeier style, Germany or … Read more Solid wood box, humidor, jewelry box, storage box made of walnut with inlays, Biedermeier or Late Biedermeier style, Germany or Austria, circa 1850. Dimensions: 31 x 21 x 10.7 cm. Condition: Signs of wear, patina – see photos.

Lively, mirror-image grain – presumably walnut or walnut burl veneer. The central pattern appears to be made of mirror-image veneer sheets.

This is typical of high-quality boxes from the 19th century. Comparable Biedermeier boxes were often made with walnut veneer on a simpler wooden body.

Inlays/marquetry – the corner motifs are stylized leaf or palmette shapes. Four rectangular, light-colored inlays adorn the body. Together with the strictly rectangular frame, this creates a Neoclassical appearance.

The sides are exceptionally elaborate: a heavily profiled structure, concave/convex curved side profiles, a large inset panel, a light-colored inset frame, richly grained walnut, and a projecting base.

This is clearly more than a simple jewelry box. The construction is reminiscent of miniature furniture, such as high-quality Biedermeier and later Historicist caskets.

The four small, dark ball feet are an important detail in the design language of the early to mid-19th century. See less