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A beautiful Italian puzzle jewellery box from the early 20th century. Secret lock and secret compartment. Recently refurbished interior compartment. Made in Sorrento, Italy.
FREE UK NEXT DAY DELIVERY. We Ship Worldwide.
This is a wonderful high-quality old jewellery box. It was made in Sorrento, in Southern Italy and it dates to the early 20th century. It is a very interesting puzzle box with a secret lock and secret compartment. The box is complete with its original working lock and key and the interior compartment has been recently refurbished.
The Exterior
This box is made of solid Olivewood, further details of which are given below. The Olivewood has a lovely aged patina and beautiful figuration.
The box is in the form of books. There are two books horizontally placed at the top and bottom, and a row of upright volumes in between. These are all numbered with hand-painted Roman Numerals (I to XI).
The lid has beautiful hand-painted Swallows which symbolise the safe return of a loved one. They could possibly relate to the old Italian song 'Torna A Surriento', the English translation being 'Come Back to Sorrento'. There is a frame of decorative inlay surrounding the Swallows which adds a lovely finishing touch to the lid.
The box is complete with its original hinges. It also has its original working lock (and key) which is hidden behind the central upright book.
There is a secret compartment within the bottom horizontally placed book. This compartment is shallow and ideal for private/treasured letters and photos etc. The key to the box can also be stored in there for safekeeping.
About Olivewood
Olivewood has a distinctive grain and rich colour which gives it its beautiful appearance. It has characteristic brown and yellow streaks which make for a beautiful contrast. These features make it a sought after wood for decorative items such as jewellery boxes.
Olivewood is also favoured for its hardness. It is a strong durable wood with a fairly high density and it takes well to cutting and polishing.
The Olive tree primarily grows in the coastal regions of the Mediterranean. Its wood has been used for many years by Italian box makers in particular. It is also a favoured wood in areas of the Holy Lands such as Jerusalem.
The Interior
The interior has a single storage compartment which has been recently refurbished. The base has a new padded green velvet panel and the walls have new quality paper linings. The padded panel provides cushioned protection for jewellery.
The inside of the lid has its original mirror and surrounding wooden frame / silk linings.
History Of Italian Sorrento Puzzle Boxes
These beautiful puzzle boxes with their secret locks and compartments were designed to securely store valuable pieces of jewellery and private documents etc. Puzzle boxes are still made today and are produced in many countries, but these modern versions are rarely as beautiful or as well made.
This particular puzzle box may have been made as a souvenir for Italy's tourist market.
An information sheet with further details on the history of Italian puzzle boxes will be sent along with the box. This includes detailed instructions on how to access the secret lock and compartment. It is important to read these instructions very carefully before accessing the lock and secret compartment.
*Failure to correctly access the lock/compartment could cause serious damage to the box. We are not responsible for any such damage.
Age
Circa 1920s/1930s.
Condition
This wonderful box is in very good condition despite its 100 years of age. It has sound structure and no damage.
The hinges are still in good working order and the box locks securely.
Some sap from the Olivewood has seeped through to the surfaces of the new paper linings. This doesn't look too unsightly in our opinion, rather it has caused the paper to have an aged appearance which complements the date of the box.
The new padded velvet panel is in immaculate clean, unused condition.
There is some minor loss of paint to the Swallows and minor wear to the varnished finish of the Olivewood.
The mirror has a fair amount of foxing and cloudiness as we'd expect due to its 100 years of age.
Notes About Old Locks
We would like to make you aware that vintage/antique locks can occasionally malfunction. They are already old and so will naturally have some wear from age and use. We are not responsible for locks that malfunction from further age and use once boxes are purchased. Please ensure the lock is still working as soon as you receive your box. It will be checked again prior to posting.
You can view our full returns policy which includes locks by visiting our Payments And Returns page.
Measurements
Please use the following measurements to ensure the box is the right size for your requirements.
Length: 24.5cm
Width: 12.5cm
Height: 11.1cm
Interior Compartment:
22.1 by 9.2cm with a 5.8cm depth.
Postage
This box will be posted FREE within the UK by Royal Mail Next Day Special Delivery.
International postage is £30 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 note that we cannot deliver to international PO boxes as we use a secure insured postal service that requires a signature.
Customs/VAT fees and Import Tariffs
International customers are responsible for paying any applicable customs duties, import tariffs, customs clearance/handling fees and/or VAT. These fees are NOT included in the prices of our boxes or our postage fees.
Please visit our Orders & Delivery page for further details.
A beautiful Italian puzzle jewellery box from the early 20th century. Secret lock and secret compartment. Recently refurbished interior compartment. Made in Sorrento, Italy.
A beautiful Italian puzzle jewellery box from the early 20th century. Secret lock and secret compartment. Recently refurbished interior compartment. Made in Sorrento, Italy.
FREE UK NEXT DAY DELIVERY. We Ship Worldwide.
This is a wonderful high-quality old jewellery box. It was made in Sorrento, in Southern Italy and it dates to the early 20th century. It is a very interesting puzzle box with a secret lock and secret compartment. The box is complete with its original working lock and key and the interior compartment has been recently refurbished.
The Exterior
This box is made of solid Olivewood, further details of which are given below. The Olivewood has a lovely aged patina and beautiful figuration.
The box is in the form of books. There are two books horizontally placed at the top and bottom, and a row of upright volumes in between. These are all numbered with hand-painted Roman Numerals (I to XI).
The lid has beautiful hand-painted Swallows which symbolise the safe return of a loved one. They could possibly relate to the old Italian song 'Torna A Surriento', the English translation being 'Come Back to Sorrento'. There is a frame of decorative inlay surrounding the Swallows which adds a lovely finishing touch to the lid.
The box is complete with its original hinges. It also has its original working lock (and key) which is hidden behind the central upright book.
There is a secret compartment within the bottom horizontally placed book. This compartment is shallow and ideal for private/treasured letters and photos etc. The key to the box can also be stored in there for safekeeping.
About Olivewood
Olivewood has a distinctive grain and rich colour which gives it its beautiful appearance. It has characteristic brown and yellow streaks which make for a beautiful contrast. These features make it a sought after wood for decorative items such as jewellery boxes.
Olivewood is also favoured for its hardness. It is a strong durable wood with a fairly high density and it takes well to cutting and polishing.
The Olive tree primarily grows in the coastal regions of the Mediterranean. Its wood has been used for many years by Italian box makers in particular. It is also a favoured wood in areas of the Holy Lands such as Jerusalem.
The Interior
The interior has a single storage compartment which has been recently refurbished. The base has a new padded green velvet panel and the walls have new quality paper linings. The padded panel provides cushioned protection for jewellery.
The inside of the lid has its original mirror and surrounding wooden frame / silk linings.
History Of Italian Sorrento Puzzle Boxes
These beautiful puzzle boxes with their secret locks and compartments were designed to securely store valuable pieces of jewellery and private documents etc. Puzzle boxes are still made today and are produced in many countries, but these modern versions are rarely as beautiful or as well made.
This particular puzzle box may have been made as a souvenir for Italy's tourist market.
An information sheet with further details on the history of Italian puzzle boxes will be sent along with the box. This includes detailed instructions on how to access the secret lock and compartment. It is important to read these instructions very carefully before accessing the lock and secret compartment.
*Failure to correctly access the lock/compartment could cause serious damage to the box. We are not responsible for any such damage.
Age
Circa 1920s/1930s.
Condition
This wonderful box is in very good condition despite its 100 years of age. It has sound structure and no damage.
The hinges are still in good working order and the box locks securely.
Some sap from the Olivewood has seeped through to the surfaces of the new paper linings. This doesn't look too unsightly in our opinion, rather it has caused the paper to have an aged appearance which complements the date of the box.
The new padded velvet panel is in immaculate clean, unused condition.
There is some minor loss of paint to the Swallows and minor wear to the varnished finish of the Olivewood.
The mirror has a fair amount of foxing and cloudiness as we'd expect due to its 100 years of age.
Notes About Old Locks
We would like to make you aware that vintage/antique locks can occasionally malfunction. They are already old and so will naturally have some wear from age and use. We are not responsible for locks that malfunction from further age and use once boxes are purchased. Please ensure the lock is still working as soon as you receive your box. It will be checked again prior to posting.
You can view our full returns policy which includes locks by visiting our Payments And Returns page.
Measurements
Please use the following measurements to ensure the box is the right size for your requirements.
Length: 24.5cm
Width: 12.5cm
Height: 11.1cm
Interior Compartment:
22.1 by 9.2cm with a 5.8cm depth.
Postage
This box will be posted FREE within the UK by Royal Mail Next Day Special Delivery.
International postage is £30 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 note that we cannot deliver to international PO boxes as we use a secure insured postal service that requires a signature.
Customs/VAT fees and Import Tariffs
International customers are responsible for paying any applicable customs duties, import tariffs, customs clearance/handling fees and/or VAT. These fees are NOT included in the prices of our boxes or our postage fees.
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.
