Can you believe that an intricately handcrafted wooden jewelry box could be as attractive as the jewelry it stores? Handcrafted handmade jewelry boxes and cabinets have been popular over the ages, especially through the renaissance and the Elizabethan era. Wood is the material of choice in making jewelry boxes as it is pliant and has an earthiness attached to it, which is why it is favoured over metals by jewelry box makers.

The grand apartment de la reine, residence of the queens of France, was redecorated extensively by Marie Antoinette, an 18th century Queen of France and Navarre, with elaborate furniture pieces. The famous ‘Art Carpenter’ of the 1700s, Jean-Ferdinand-Schwerdfeger, gifted Queen Marie Antoinette with a large and intricate jewelry cabinet that she placed in her private rooms.

There are different types of wood that are used in making jewelry boxes. Some of the most common are pine, cedar, walnut, redwood, mahogany, teak, oak, and cherry. But there are also a few exotic wood varieties that are used like the ebony from Sri Lanka and India, and the zebra wood and wenge from Africa. Hardwoods are the all time favorites.

Symbols, flowers, landscapes, and other patterns are carved on the lids of most wooden jewelry boxes. These are very popular with men and women. Those who have the money to spend on extravagances, like matching their jewelry boxes with the rest of the decor and get it to blend with their furniture, doors, and windows too.

Each wooden jewelry box is unique as it is handmade and has its own traits. Artistically combined burls are stained to enhance the natural color of the wood . These burls look like granite and are used to create exotic patterns that cannot be replicated.

Acid free suede lining is given to the higher end wooden jewelry boxes to prevent the jewelry from getting tarnished. It is better to store silver jewelry inside an air tight bag as exposure to air tarnishes silver easily.

A jewelry box that has a lot of drawers and dividers to separately store different pieces of jewelry is ideal for women. 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.

A man’s jewelry box is usually referred to by other more manly names like ‘valet boxes’, ‘cuff link boxes’, ‘watch boxes’, etc and they are less ornamental than women’s jewelry boxes. Now for men, an ideal box would be one that has many dividers and trays with specific receptacles for watches, tie pins, cuff links, rings, etc.

Woodcarvers are found all over the world but are predominantly from Russia, the Middle East, Asia, and Alaska. 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!

Those who can afford an expensive hobby even like collecting handcrafted wooden jewelry boxes that may be even more expensive than the jewelry in it!

This article was brought to you by MarqART Gift Shop. Our jewelry boxes are original works of art, no two creations are the same. Each wood shown has its own unique wood grain pattern and color. MarqART comes from combining the words marquetry (wood inlay) + Art (a creation of beauty) an apt name for our products. 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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