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Antique Black Forest Hand Carved Wooden Box with Key, circa 1880 to 1910
An oval carved wooden box with a deeply undercut floral group on the lid, carved borders around the rim and foot, a working lock with its original key, and its original royal blue velvet lining.
Measurements, outside dimensions: 6 5/8 inches at the longest point, 4 1/4 inches at the widest, and 2 1/2 inches tall not including the raised carving on the lid.
About Black Forest carving
"Black Forest" is the name the antiques trade gave to this whole family of deeply carved naturalistic woodwork, but most of it was not made in Germany's Black Forest. The great majority was carved in and around Brienz, in the Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland, where a carving school and a large cottage industry produced this work for the tourist and export trade from the mid nineteenth century into the early twentieth. The name stuck regardless, and collectors today still search for it under Black Forest, so both terms are used here.
Boxes like this one were made as jewelry and trinket caskets and were bought as souvenirs by travelers on the Continent. They were hand carved, often by families working at home through the winter, and the quality varies enormously. This is a good example rather than a tourist trinket.
What to look for on this piece
The flowers and leaves on the lid are carved free of the ground with open space behind them, which is genuine skilled undercutting rather than shallow relief or machine work.
The background behind the carving has a fine pebbled texture. That was made by hand with a small matting punch, struck dot by dot, and is one of the signatures of Brienz carving.
The carved bands around the rim and the foot are cut freehand, and if you follow them around you will find the small irregularities that tell you a person and not a machine made them.
The brass hinge is secured with hand-driven slotted screws, and the lock takes a hollow-barrel steel bit key, both consistent with late nineteenth century hardware.
Dating
This piece is offered as circa 1880 to 1910 based on the punched ground, the depth of the undercutting, the hand-driven slotted screws and period lock hardware, the character of the blue velvet lining, and the patina, which is dark in the recesses and worn lighter on the high points from long handling. No maker's mark or label is present, which is typical, as the vast majority of this work was unsigned.
Condition
Very good antique condition with honest wear consistent with age. Specifically:
The carving is fully intact. There are no chips or losses to the floral design on the lid or to the carved borders.
There are several small openings in the underside of the box, photographed close up and included among the listing images. They are irregular and slot-shaped rather than the neat round flight holes typical of woodworm, and the wood exposed at their edges is pale and raw rather than aged and darkened. I am not able to say with certainty what caused them. They may be old insect galleries running near the surface that have since broken through, or they may be mechanical damage. I see no frass, no powder, and no sign of anything active. They are confined to the underside and do not affect the carving, the structure, or the way the box sits. They are shown clearly in the photographs so you can judge for yourself.
There is a fine surface crack at the back of the box.
A small sliver of wood has splintered away from the inside back edge. It does not affect the hinge, the seating of the lid, or the operation of the box in any way.
The original blue velvet lining is present in both the lid and the base and appears to be original to the piece. There is a small area of lifting at the lock plate inside.
The key is included and turns the lock. Please note that the lock does not fully secure the box, and the lid can be pried open. This is a decorative lock, and the box should not be relied upon to secure anything of value.
The color of the item may vary slightly from the photos due to different monitor displays, lighting conditions, and camera settings. We do our best to accurately capture and describe the true color of every item.
Please review all photos closely, as they form an important part of the condition report. Additional photos are available on request, and we are happy to answer any questions before you buy.
About This Seller
Times Gone By is a small family antiques business run by a husband and wife team. We personally select, research, and photograph every piece we sell. We describe items honestly, including their flaws, because we would rather you know exactly what you are receiving. Items are carefully packed for safe shipping. If you have questions about this piece or are looking for something particular, please message us. We are always happy to help.
