| The history of the jewelry box dates back | | | | Silver. Ivory finishes were introduced around |
| centuries. Throughout the ages, jewelry boxes | | | | 1911. Enamel finished boxes lasted longer |
| have been designed and crafted by skilled | | | | than gold or silver boxes. |
| craftsmen. The Industrial Revolution | | | | |
| initiated the concept of mass production. It | | | | International Influences on Jewelry Boxes |
| enabled the middle class of the society to | | | | |
| purchase decorative items like the jewelry | | | | International trade and travel opened new |
| box along with other essential commodities. | | | | doors to decorative styles all over the |
| This was possible as jewelry boxes could be | | | | globe. During the early 1900s, the most |
| manufactured in bulk and the cost involved in | | | | outstanding decorative style of jewelry boxes |
| the mass production was less. | | | | was Art Nouveau. It was a romantic design |
| | | | that was famous for its flowing, asymmetrical |
| Mail Order Luxuries | | | | lines, with motifs relating to nature. The |
| | | | Nouveau design reflected flower sentiments on |
| In the early 1900s, mail order catalogs such | | | | jewelry boxes; the four-leaf-clover for good |
| as Sears, Wards and Marshall Field, enabled | | | | luck, daisies for innocence, roses for love |
| the average family to purchase jewelry boxes | | | | and beauty, and so on. |
| from home. Even the jewelry stores put on | | | | |
| display the latest and trendiest jewelry box | | | | From 1904 to 1918, there was an overwhelming |
| designs. Jewel boxes were available in all | | | | mass production of jewelry boxes. In this |
| sizes, from the smallest ring box to | | | | era, gold and silver boxes were very common. |
| handkerchief and even glove sized boxes. The | | | | Silver-plated boxes are considered as antique |
| bottom parts of these boxes were as beautiful | | | | jewelry boxes and are very rare. Other types |
| as the top design. | | | | of antique jewelry boxes include the souvenir |
| | | | boxes that have commemorative ceramic or |
| Antimonial lead was the most common base | | | | photo discs. There are also the ivory |
| metal used for the construction of jewelry | | | | finished boxes. Thought they were designed |
| boxes. Initially, the jewelry boxes were | | | | later, they are very hard to find. Their |
| electroplated with copper, and then finished | | | | finishes were extremely durable. Hence, these |
| with either gold or silver. Other finishing | | | | antique jewelry boxes may still be passed |
| touches included French Bronze, Roman Gold, | | | | down the family generations. |
| Pompeian Gold, French Gray, and Parisian | | | | |