Tribal Boxes

Beautiful handcrafted antique tinned copper decorative octagonal betel box with with lid, handle and brass latch. The metal is delicately and int...

A small Meiji period mixed metal box by Tadakazu, of rectangular form, showing a figure carrying a long pole and a gold sack in a landscape with a torii gate...

A scarce fine quality antique silver-inlaid solid brass betel nut box (Lutuan), dating to the second half of the 19th / early 20th century, hand-crafted in Mindanao, Philippines. Boxes such as this were used to store the areca nut (also known as the betel nut) which would be wrapped in a betel leaf with lime paste and other ingredients, often tobacco, for chewing. Similar to the European tea caddy, these boxes often served as a way to impress while showing off ones wealth. Betel chewing was prevalent in the southern Philippines as in much of the rest of Southeast Asia. Wealthier Maranao families on Mindanao were able to afford elaborate silver-inlaid brass betel boxes such as this example. Such boxes were used to show off to guests and from which they were offered betel and the other component such as leaves and lime to make up the betel quid. Rare large size, most extant examples of such boxes tend to measure around 5 inches in length. At slightly more than 7.75 inches the example here is larger than most. The distinctive decorative box features a very heavy strong-box like rectangular shaped chest form with canted corners, copper handles, and a conforming hinged lid, lifting open to reveal an interior divided into three compartments covered by four hinged lids. Each of these doors is inlaid with silver in stylized orchid flower patterns. Exceptionally executed throughout, the arabesque silver inlaid exterior is decorated to the top with a large orchid motif within scrolling obid-obid (stylized rope) borders. The front, back and sides are inlaid with sets of stylized tail feathers of the sari-manok bird beneath which are unusual, highly stylized whimsical zoomorphic faces that appear like cat or tiger faces. (Such stylisation is accounted for by Southeast Asian Islamic preferences to avoid the overt and this potentially idolatrous representation of animal and human forms. Designs such as these are drawn from a local design repertoire that has its origins in wood carving. Although the spread of Islam in the Philippines began in the 14th century, mostly through the influence of Muslim merchants from the western Malay Archipelago, decorative arts in this design remain exceptionally rare. This lutuan represents a fine example of Islamic metalwork from the most eastern outreach of Islamic art and civilisation: Mindanao island being significantly further east than even China – artwork from Islamic Southeast Asia remains chronically under-represented in the world’s major collections of Islamic art. PROVENANCE / ACQUISITION Acquired from highly reputable auction house, Austin Auction Gallery, established 1983, Austin, Texas. References Brownrigg, H., Betel Cutters...

Decorative keepsake document box decorated with hand applied rectangular horn pieces. A great addition to any desk, night stand, bookcase or coffee table.

Tessellated malachite box by Maitland Smith

Vintage jewelry box in faux tessellated tortoise shell with mother-of-pearl and Abolone shell edge, circa 1970s. Simple, elegant and unique. Bin #N Jj

Lovely Art Deco model car fully made in brass. This charming model car box with many purposes was made in the US during the 1930s. Patent 75086 - This elegant and rare brass model c...

Decorative box with hand inlaid mother of pearl shell rectangular tiles.

A very well crafted tessellated stone and wood veneer trinket box in the style of R & Y Augousti, circa 1990s. The piece is in very good condition and measures 9"W x 6"D x 3"H. Great...

Top quality, good size and excellent condition antique box for the connoisseurs. How do you price a one of a kind antique of a quality and beauty that cannot be found anywhere in th...

Dimensional keepsake decorative box clad in in square shaped faceted horn elements, lined in wood. A great addition to any coffee table or desk. Measures: 14x10.

Hutton-Clarke Antiques is delighted to present a truly remarkable and uncommon treasure—an early 20th-century souvenir box adorned with an exquisite array of various shells on all si...