Featured Ivory and Nacre jewelry box, this is a keeper...

Discussion in 'Antique Discussion' started by mmarco102, Nov 8, 2018.

  1. mmarco102

    mmarco102 Well-Known Member

    ....and my first real restoration project. A keeper for two reasons
    1. I think it is one of the nices piece I have come across and
    2. I can’t sell it on ebay, lol( although I could sell it within the state of Florida). :) :) :) . But it will remain with us.

    No marking at all, jewelry or trinket box, this is a wooden box decorated in Ivory and Mother of Pearl.

    Every flower leaf and bud is beautifuly done IMHO. It is currently very dirty(filthy) and needs to be gently clean. I’m lucky to have a man just a few miles from me that uses reclaimed Ivory for repairs large and small. He stated he will also date the current ivory for me. You can see some of his work here.
    http://www.ivoryrepair.com/index.html

    Not sure if I can get the Nacre that’s missing replaced :( (but Ill try). Any ideas if I can’t?

    Also, do you think these engraving circles with flowers in the front and side was unfinished or intended? I would think a company would love to put their name on something like this, so I don’t know if it was done by an individual. Let me tell you, the mother of pearl in the images does not come through in all it’s glory. The colors are truly rich.

    Hope to show it again when it is finished.


    5CE962D3-53CC-4AA2-8C87-A46FCE63FDDF.jpeg FA93D032-56CC-4DDC-8EEF-83D6B01CE75B.jpeg E4CAB138-20CE-4760-A66F-BF2CE3775DAF.jpeg F7C57529-9ED1-45BD-A423-D0A7A758B41D.jpeg 32400509-7838-4B7F-BA92-687D0A810FD1.jpeg BD514B36-0865-4576-9A97-B7D5941E75B1.jpeg 34FDEAF1-F1AB-4E12-9DF3-9C62C24FE765.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Nov 8, 2018
    kyratango, kentworld, wenna and 11 others like this.
  2. i need help

    i need help Moderator Moderator

    Beautiful! (Take caution with that lid upside down like that.) Best of luck in restoring!
     
  3. mmarco102

    mmarco102 Well-Known Member

    I will, thanks. Currently there are no loose pieces at all(not fragile). Obviously a lot of them have fallen out prior so caution will be heeded.



    WHAT THE...$#&@#:woot:

    Is that a tea cup or bowl? Lol
    Never saw that until now.....:facepalm::hilarious::hilarious::hilarious:


    CC1EBB76-54F8-476E-879C-E56CA92B4D4F.jpeg
     
  4. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Breathtaking, marco. And a fan.:happy: Yes, it is a tea bowl.
    Cheap hair jewellery from the Philippines might do the trick. This kind of thing:
    [​IMG]
     
  5. Jivvy

    Jivvy the research is my favorite

  6. Christmasjoy

    Christmasjoy Well-Known Member

    OH .. IT'S LOVELY !!! ... Joy.
     
  7. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    I can see why you snagged that. Chinese design made like an Indian box and a seriously nice piece of work.
     
  8. mmarco102

    mmarco102 Well-Known Member

    Ok, I really kind of figured that out :hilarious:, but for the life of me, can we think of any possible reason for it to be there???? Looks like a vase went missing that was next to it, else it could have been an alien head :blackalien:

    I have been reading up On the Philippine mother of pearl and how to dye it, thank you very much. But thinking I might try to look into abalone shells. The images I post really don’t show the iridescence in this piece. Also, the green and red leafs(some as small as 1mm) seem to be stone through a loupe and micro loupe. :)


    Thank you evely, can you please share why you say chinese? I thought European, but truth be told I am clueless. Love to know how you tagged it. :)
     
    Last edited: Nov 8, 2018
  9. Pat P

    Pat P Well-Known Member

    Very nice! I don't remember seeing anything quite like this before.

    For the missing bits, shell pendants and earring dangles might work since they're relatively flat. I agree that Etsy might be a good place to find something.
     
    Christmasjoy, Bronwen and mmarco102 like this.
  10. 2manybooks

    2manybooks Well-Known Member

    I think this is Japanese shibayama: "Shibayama refers to the intricate carving and minute encrustation of various materials on to a ground material. The inlay typically consists of mother-of-pearl, ivory, tortoiseshell and coral, the combination creating a delightful contrast of colours and textures. Set in high relief above a wood, lacquer and sometimes ivory base, the inlay depicts figures, flora and fauna with a highly appealing three-dimensional effect."
    https://www.lyonandturnbull.com/news-article/shibayama-pinnacle-japanese-decorative-art
    [​IMG]
    https://www.carters.com.au/index.cf...-box-and-cover-meiji-period-circa-1900-eboni/
     
  11. mmarco102

    mmarco102 Well-Known Member

  12. 2manybooks

    2manybooks Well-Known Member

    Glad to be of help. :)
    The missing piece looks a bit like a gourd shape, though upside down for a typical gourd bottle. I am thinking that the flowering branch might be a plum tree, with a cup and bottle for plum wine.
     
  13. Pat P

    Pat P Well-Known Member

    I'd think the missing bit on the left is a white flower like the ones above the bowl. The larger blank space looks like a vase to me.
     
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  14. mmarco102

    mmarco102 Well-Known Member

    Be it a gourd or a vase, it is upside down to the bowl :facepalm:. Seriously I can’t make any sense of it at this point. But it had to look gorgeous originally. ;)


    I’m guessing it wasn’t a man pulling up his pants up after a visit to the commode. :hilarious::hilarious::hilarious::hilarious::hungover:

    21ADA006-C817-4928-9251-07D25938626F.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Nov 8, 2018
  15. cxgirl

    cxgirl Well-Known Member

  16. Aquitaine

    Aquitaine Is What It IS! But NEVER BORED!

    Super NEAT!!!!!!!! Best of luck in your restoration, and when you're done, I hope you will show us your results!!!!!
     
  17. mmarco102

    mmarco102 Well-Known Member

    Ok,ok maybe a bit more traditional, here is a 5 minute thought.... D3B8637C-8AE9-423D-8A99-C64C0C2A4923.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Nov 9, 2018
  18. bercrystal

    bercrystal Well-Known Member

    @kyratango might be able to help out since she has some experience embellishing, hiding flaws & refurbishing jewelry. :happy::happy:
     
  19. Pat P

    Pat P Well-Known Member

    There are vases shaped basically this way, although it does look like this one would be rather top-heavy.
     
    kyratango, Christmasjoy and mmarco102 like this.
  20. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Fleeting moments of beauty and relaxation, very Zen.:) As we say, life is what happens while you drink a cup of tea.
    Vase shape:
    [​IMG]

    Still early here, so at first I thought you had drawn a light bulb. Then I had a light bulb moment.....
     
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