Do you know that an exquisitely crafted wooden jewelry box could be more attractive than the jewelry in it? Handmade jewelry cabinets and handmade jewelry boxes have always been popular particularly during the Renaissance and Elizabethan times. Even though different types of metals are utilized to make jewelry boxes, wood is the favourite because of its earthy feel and pliable nature. .

Marie Antoinette, Queen of France and of Navarre, redecorated her residence, the grand apartment de la reine, with many intricate and expensive pieces of furniture. Jean-Ferdinand- Schwerdfeger, famously known as the ‘Art Carpenter’ of the 18th century, is said to have gifted the queen with a monumental jewelry cabinet that held pride of place in her boudoir.

Jewelry boxes are made with different kinds of wood. The favourites are cedar, redwood, teak, cherry, pine, walnut, mahogany, and oak. The ebony from India and Ceylon (Sri Lanka), and the African wenge are some of the exotic types of wood used in making jewelry boxes. Hardwoods are the all time favorites.

Landscapes, flowers, symbols, and other ornate patterns adorn the lids of most handmade jewelry boxes. These are very popular with men and women. It is usual for the box to match the decor of the room so those who can afford it, get their jewelry boxes customised to blend with the wood used in their windows, doors, and furniture.

Most wooden jewelry boxes possess their own characteristics and are distinct and unique. Some artistically combined burls, which when stained, enhances the natural colour of the wood used to make the box. Exotic patterns are created using these burls which bear a close resemblance to granite.

The costlier wooden jewelry boxes are given an acid free suede lining to protect the jewelry . But if you are storing silver jewelry, it would be best to keep it in its original bag even when inside the jewelry box as silver tarnishes easily when exposed to air.

A women’s jewelry box should ideally have many dividers and drawers to store necklaces, bangles, earrings, rings, and even watches. There will be hooks for necklaces and drawers for bracelets, a mirror on the lid, and melodious music that plays when the box is opened.

Men would shudder if you called their ‘watch boxes’, or ‘valet boxes’, or ‘cufflink boxes’, as jewelry boxes! and they are more masculine in look and feel than women’s jewelry boxes. An ideal box for men would be one that has several trays and dividers with spaces for rings, watches, cuff links, tie pins, etc.

Woodcarvers are mostly from the Middle East, Alaska, Russia, and Asia. At the hands of an ‘art carpenter’ any block of wood can be transformed into a beautiful piece of art. The rich and famous like to collect wooden jewelry boxes just for display and many a time, the box is costlier than the jewelry in it!

It is a favorite hobby of the affluent to indulge in collecting handcarved wooden jewelry boxes and sometimes the jewelry in the box would be less expensive than the box itself!

This article was brought to you by MarqART Gift Shop. Our jewelry boxes feature evocative wood art designs, created from unique wood grain patterns and colors. A fine addition to your dressing table or as a gift. Please visit http://www.marqartgiftshop.com to browse & buy exotic jewelry boxes that will give you a lifetime of pleasure!

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