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Beautiful 1940s vintage jewellery box from Sorrento. Beautiful inlay and symbolic hand-painted Swallows. Original quilted silk lined interior. Secret compartment in the bottom of the box. Novel book form.
Please contact us if you are looking for a similar box and we will endeavour to source one for you!
This is a beautiful small vintage jewellery box, made in Sorrento, Italy. It dates to the 1940s. It is beautifully lined, inlaid and hand-painted. It also has a secret compartment.
The Exterior
This box is in the novel form of a volume of books. There are two books horizontally placed at the top and bottom, and a volume of upright books in between. These are numbered 1-7 in hand-painted Roman Numerals.
The top book is the lid of the box. This has stunning hand-painted Swallows, surrounded by a beautiful inlaid frame. The inlay consists of several colourful varieties of wood.
There are pretty hand-painted leaves to the spines of the top and bottom books.
Secret Compartment
There is a secret compartment in the bottom book of the box. The compartment is revealed by sliding the centre of the box backwards and then sliding the spine of the bottom book to the left. You then slide out a thin wooden panel from the right side of the bottom book. Full instructions for opening this compartment will be sent along with the box. Please do not open it until these have been read.
The wood has a smooth polished and varnished finish which has given it a lovely sheen.
The box is complete with its original brass hinges.
Swallow Symbolism
Swallows have long symbolised the safe journey home of a loved one. The box was possibly made during WW2 and the Swallows added in relation to the hoped safe journey home of a soldier.
Note
The box has a secret lock which is hidden behind the spine of volume 4. This is no longer functioning and the spine has been sealed. Please do not attempt to remove it as doing so will damage the wood.
The Interior
The interior has a single storage compartment. This has its original padded and quilted silk panel. The walls have their original silk linings.
The inside of the lid has its original mirror, framed by its original silk linings.
The silk is a beautiful baby pink shade.
Condition
This box is in lovely vintage condition with only minor light age-related wear.
There is no loss of paint to the Swallows and all of the inlay is present and intact.
The joints to the bottom front and rear of the top book have opened up slightly from age/use. They are still solid and have not affected the sound structure of the box.
The interior silk linings are still very nice. They are neatly fitted and have no splits or fraying.
The mirror has a few little specks of foxing but is otherwise clear. It has no chips or cracks.
The hinges are still in good working order and the box closes securely.
Measurements
Please use the following measurements to ensure the box is the right size for your requirements. It will hold a small collection of jewellery.
Length: 11.7cm
Width: 9.3cm
Height: 9.2cm
Interior Compartment:
9.5 by 6.5cm with a 4.0cm depth.
Postage
This box will be posted FREE within the UK by Royal Mail Next Day Special Delivery.
International postage is £15 by Royal Mail International Tracked and/or Signed For postage. Delivery is fast, within 3-5 working days to Europe and 5-7 working days to the rest of the world. Delivery may be longer depending on the speed of your local postal service and/or if your package has to go through customs.
Please visit our Orders & Delivery page for further details.
Beautiful 1940s vintage jewellery box from Sorrento. Beautiful inlay and symbolic hand-painted Swallows. Original quilted silk lined interior. Secret compartment in the bottom of the box. Novel book form.
Please contact us if you are looking for a similar box and we will endeavour to source one for you!
This is a beautiful small vintage jewellery box, made in Sorrento, Italy. It dates to the 1940s. It is beautifully lined, inlaid and hand-painted. It also has a secret compartment.
The Exterior
This box is in the novel form of a volume of books. There are two books horizontally placed at the top and bottom, and a volume of upright books in between. These are numbered 1-7 in hand-painted Roman Numerals.
The top book is the lid of the box. This has stunning hand-painted Swallows, surrounded by a beautiful inlaid frame. The inlay consists of several colourful varieties of wood.
There are pretty hand-painted leaves to the spines of the top and bottom books.
Secret Compartment
There is a secret compartment in the bottom book of the box. The compartment is revealed by sliding the centre of the box backwards and then sliding the spine of the bottom book to the left. You then slide out a thin wooden panel from the right side of the bottom book. Full instructions for opening this compartment will be sent along with the box. Please do not open it until these have been read.
The wood has a smooth polished and varnished finish which has given it a lovely sheen.
The box is complete with its original brass hinges.
Swallow Symbolism
Swallows have long symbolised the safe journey home of a loved one. The box was possibly made during WW2 and the Swallows added in relation to the hoped safe journey home of a soldier.
Note
The box has a secret lock which is hidden behind the spine of volume 4. This is no longer functioning and the spine has been sealed. Please do not attempt to remove it as doing so will damage the wood.
The Interior
The interior has a single storage compartment. This has its original padded and quilted silk panel. The walls have their original silk linings.
The inside of the lid has its original mirror, framed by its original silk linings.
The silk is a beautiful baby pink shade.
Condition
This box is in lovely vintage condition with only minor light age-related wear.
There is no loss of paint to the Swallows and all of the inlay is present and intact.
The joints to the bottom front and rear of the top book have opened up slightly from age/use. They are still solid and have not affected the sound structure of the box.
The interior silk linings are still very nice. They are neatly fitted and have no splits or fraying.
The mirror has a few little specks of foxing but is otherwise clear. It has no chips or cracks.
The hinges are still in good working order and the box closes securely.
Measurements
Please use the following measurements to ensure the box is the right size for your requirements. It will hold a small collection of jewellery.
Length: 11.7cm
Width: 9.3cm
Height: 9.2cm
Interior Compartment:
9.5 by 6.5cm with a 4.0cm depth.
Postage
This box will be posted FREE within the UK by Royal Mail Next Day Special Delivery.
International postage is £15 by Royal Mail International Tracked and/or Signed For postage. Delivery is fast, within 3-5 working days to Europe and 5-7 working days to the rest of the world. Delivery may be longer depending on the speed of your local postal service and/or if your package has to go through customs.
Please visit our Orders & Delivery page for further details.
For more information regarding our payments and returns policy, please click this link.
For more information regarding our orders and delivery policy, please click this link.
