| Throughout history, jewelry boxes were constructed | | | | The most prominent decorative style of jewel box |
| and designed by craftsmen, one box at a time. With | | | | during the early 1900s was Art Nouveau, a romantic |
| the Industrial Revolution came the concept of mass | | | | style noted for its flowing, asymmetrical lines, with |
| production, avidly adopted in the United States during | | | | motifs relating to nature. Most today associate Art |
| the late 19th century. For the first time, objects like | | | | Nouveau with graceful nymph-like young women, but |
| jewelry boxes, could be cast in quantity, less costly | | | | floral motifs held a major place in the American |
| to produce. And, there was now a Middle Class in | | | | Nouveau jewelry box world. the Language of Flowers |
| america, able to purchase decorative items, not just | | | | was a popular concept during the Victorian Period. so, |
| the essentials. | | | | floral sentiments were reflected in the Nouveau style |
| American ladies of the early 1900s aspired to the high | | | | on jewelry boxes, the four-leaf-clover for good luck, |
| style of great cities like London and Paris. Mail order | | | | daisies for innocence, roses for love and beauty, and |
| catalogs, Sears, Wards, and Marshall Field, enabled the | | | | so on. |
| average family to make purchases from their homes, | | | | There were several American Art Metal |
| including jewelry boxes. Jewelry stores also displayed | | | | manufacturers that designed and produced jewel |
| in their windows the latest designs purchased from | | | | boxes. For example, Jennings Brothers, Kronheimer |
| wholesalers. Jewel boxes were available in all sizes, | | | | and Oldenbusch, Benedict, NB Rogers, The Art Metal |
| from the smallest ring box to handkerchief and even | | | | Works, Brainard and Wilson which patented one of |
| glove sized boxes. Their bottoms could be a beautiful | | | | the first Nouveau jewel box designs, and Weidlich |
| as the tops. | | | | Brothers which took several patents on their Colonial |
| Jewel Cases, caskets, and trinket boxes were | | | | designs. |
| classified as Art Metal Wares, and were plated in | | | | Many of these manufacturers trademarked or signed |
| gold, silver, copper or ivory. A popular misconception | | | | their jewel boxes. However, Sears and Roebuck and |
| is that there was iron in the metal. The most | | | | Montgomery Ward implied in their early catalogs that |
| common base metals for jewel boxes were actually | | | | they were the manufacturer supplying the |
| spelter or antimonial lead. Almost all alloys used were | | | | merchandise. They did not was trademark on some |
| of metals with low melting points, explaining the | | | | items they sold. So. one may find two identical jewel |
| broken hinges often seen today. | | | | boxes, one with a signature, another without. |
| Manufacturers experimented with many finishes. Most | | | | Peak production lasted fewer than 15 years, |
| jewel boxes were first electroplated with copper, | | | | 1904-1918, but the term Mass Production held a |
| then finished with gold or silver. Other refinements | | | | completely different meaning then than it does today. |
| were French Bronze, Roman Gold, Pompeian Gold, | | | | Gold and silver finished boxes were the most |
| French Gray, Parisian Silver. Around 1911, ivory | | | | common. The silver boxes have not fared well, unless |
| finishes were introduced, achieved by painting with | | | | actually silver-plated, a rare find. Also rare are |
| white enamel, then applying various oxides, resulting | | | | souvenir jewel boxes with commemorative ceramic |
| in Old Ivory, Oriental Ivory, Old antique Ivory, and | | | | or photo discs. The ivory finished boxes, though |
| Tinted Ivory. Enamel finished boxes were more | | | | somewhat later in development, remain elusive. Their |
| lasting than gold or silver boxes. | | | | finishes were more durable, so they may still be |
| Jewel boxes were lined with fine pale-colored silks | | | | handed down within families. |
| from Japan and China, also with faille, satin or sateen, | | | | These wonderful antique jewel boxes were much |
| and were often trimmed with twisted satin cord. | | | | valued, and they held their popularity well until World |
| Some boxes were lined with velvet in brighter colors. | | | | War I, when the continuity of fashion was broken, |
| International trade and travel drew attention to | | | | re-directing interest from decorative to the function |
| decorative styles all over the world. For example, the | | | | and power of the machine. Fortunately, we can still |
| Classical styles, the Victorian Period, Art Nouveau | | | | discover examples of the almost-100-year old |
| from France, and world discoveries like the Egyptian | | | | treasures. |
| tombs. And Americans began to reflect on their own | | | | Further information about antique American jewelry |
| history, with a renewed interest in its Colonial days. | | | | boxes may be found in THE JEWEL BOX BOOK. |
| All was reflected in Jewel Boxes. | | | | |