Featured ESTATE SALE FIND - ANTIQUE ARMENIAN JEWELER'S CASE?

I got this at a local thrift store last week-end. The owner told me he bought it from a woman who told him it was her Armenian husband's jewelry case he used when traveling to sell jewels. (I thought it was a antique tool chest)

One of the cool features is the front cover comes off completely when you open the top - and stays on when you close it because the top cover pushes down on a pin that goes into a hole in the front cover, securing it in place! A sophisticated design feature for something that is as old as I think/hope it is.

Is this a jeweler's case? If not what was it designed for?
How old is it?
Is it rare or valuable?

I appreciate any help!

 

It's more like a machinist's chest, but they work well for jewellery too.

 

I'm with Bronwen, machinist's chest. But perfect for jewellery as well.

 

machinist chest is a better title for eBay right?
PS - Thanks guys!

 

Why don't you clean it up a little before you list it and take new pictures?
Patd

 

a lovely box.....

 

I believe this to be a modified tool box, if you list it as such, these are making big money on ebay ATM

 

call it that - modified toolbox?

 

Can't say I see any modifications other than small repairs - as already suggested, it's a typical oak machinist's tool chest, on the smallish side, and may or may not have had a small mirror inside the lid...

~Cheryl

 

Sorry now I read my last comment perhaps a better explanation is needed, a machinist's tool chest wouldn't have been lined with green baize surely? Sorry it's my fault for not reading all the comments before, I glimpsed "jewellery" twice on the way down to make a comment on this tool chest only because I'm stunned on how much these are making on ebay ATM I said "modified" only in relation to the green baize.

 

Would have been and still would be on a new piece.

~Cheryl

 

Raver, I agree on the felt like lining but when I looked at a number, many seem to have that lining.
I wonder if they were tools such as a jeweler or other repair person?
Patd

 

A goldsmith's tools would be in their work bench.

 

This would work great for jeweler's tools, but I don't think it was meant for a jeweler originally. Someone who needed small tools and portability had this.

 

100% agreement. There is no mystery on these boxes, you can still buy them.

Mr. Jivvy has a Gerstner.

Got big time Wife Points when that was his birthday present.

 

They were designed for the small, precision tools used in certain occupations. My dad had one. He was a model maker (full size, not miniature) for what used to be (GM) Fisher Body. If there was a prolonged UAW strike, he picked up work as a tool & die maker. Most of what he kept in it didn't really need the felt cushioning, but some of the tools did.

 

I agree with @Bronwen and others who said jeweler's chest, or...

Journeyman's chest for a number of trades, draftsman comes to mind. My dad was a tool and die maker, as well as his dad. My brother has all 3 of them.

For pre-skision tools, as we used to say.

Many technical illustrators and inkers I worked with had them on their drafting table...

My local jeweler has one on his bench - not a goldsmith, they specialize in antique clock and jewelry repair.

My dad used an unlined all metal one to keep smaller socket wrench sets in order, screwdrivers, awls, files, dividers, Starrett rulers, plumbs, whetting stones, soapstone, Simichrome... That one never moved, being heavy as hell.

Remember when Simichrome could be found on every dad's workbench? The people at home depot have never heard of it.

Nice box @journeymagazine! You probably already sold it!

 

Edit: added to above reply

 

Lucky Mr Jivvy

 

Hopefully for a fat profit. I never had one like that; my grandpa worked on steam trains. His screwdrivers were too long to fit in the box!