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Intro/Background:
This is a beautiful antique piece that I picked up while living in Santa Fe, New Mexico in the mid 1970s. A HEAVY gauge, solid brass art nouveau crescent moon jewelry box - hand formed, hand tooled, with a hinged heavy brass top. One thing is for certain, they just don’t make things like they used to. Yes, I know…the tired old story of the tired old man bemoaning the trinkets of modern day society… but seriously? Hold this piece in the palm of your hand, feel the - heavy - solid brass pressing against your skin… it’s hard not to long for a day when quality came before quantity.
The Piece Itself:
I purchased this piece from a little boutique called “Touch Of Old” in downtown Santa Fe while browsing with my wife. Truth be told? We didn’t often purchase from “Touch Of Old” (beyond our price range) but we couldn’t pass up what my wife spotted housed in a glass display case. It was the deep, warm orange/gold gleam that first caught her eye. For myself? I loved the perfect imperfections of the piece… This piece was created - quite literally - using hammer. Brass is heated to a point of malleability, and beaten with a hammer to take shape. The shape (of course) is imperfect… with subtle rises and dips in the thick brass surface. Even before holding the piece, we marveled over the sheer complexity of the jewelry box’s design. The - entirety - of the box’s top (and sides) were covered in masterfully etched, highly intricate patterning. This was done, of course, by hand. Further elevating the beauty of this jewelry box’s fantastically complex inlaid design, was the natural patina. With an estimated creation date of the 1940s to early 50s, over time a dark patina had come to rest in all parts of the receded brass. Take a moment to view the image of this piece’s top. Note the awesome variation in hue, the juxtaposition of warm, radiant brass to matte patina brass. In each and every “nook” of the engraved 3-Dimensional design, a lovely natural patina. So STRIKING is the brass in its contrast… a welcome break from the monotone, gleaming look of modern unblemished bronze.
The patterning seen at this jewelry box’s top continues along all sides. It is worth noting that my wife and I have never polished this piece. I - highly - advise against it. If you take a brass cleaner to this piece, you will end up loosing all of the detail in the design. Everything will blend together, and it will take - many years - for that natural patina to emerge again!
This jewelry box is actually hinged, meaning the crescent moon actually flips open and shut. Once opened, you will find that the interior is unfinished bronze - again never having been polished. The inside is segmented into three compartments, which (I must say) is very convenient when wanting to keep earrings separate from rings, rings separate from chains, etc.
Dimensions/Specs:
This piece has a depth of about 1.8 inches (top to bottom) and measures about 6 inches long. It weighs 14.7 OZ, or just under a pound.
Parting Note:
Overall, this is a stunning antique that stands alone as a work of brass art. My hope is that whoever this piece goes off to, they will give it the continued love and care it deserves. While we will be sad to see it go, we take solace in that long after we have passed on, a bit of our hearts and minds will continue on through the beauty of this little treasure of ours.
~ if you have any further questions, or would like to see any additional photos, please do not hesitate to reach out in the form of an email. I will get back to you promptly. Wills ship overseas, but not responsible for any customs fees that might be incurred.
