Inside the Jewel Box Book

Book design, photography, and Website design and production by Willa Davis.

The 208 pages between the covers of this book contain an astounding gathering of information and knowledge
for your reading and
collecting pleasure.

Here is a brief overview of what you will find in this beautifully presented collectors book:

Pages 6–17 offers invaluable information on the events of the period that led to the successful rise in popularity and sale of art metal jewel boxes, such as: improved manufacturing processes, increased world travel, the world exhibitions in Philadelphia (1876), Chicago (1893), and St. Louis (1904), the establishment of the mail order catalog, and the birth of the United States Parcel Post service, to name a few.

Pages 18–73 explores the many decorative styles that the boxes are known for, from Art Nouveau to the revival of American Colonial, European and Classical design elements. Also—in great detail— are the hundreds of decorative motifs used in the decoration of the boxes; including the identification of floral patterns — along with the sentimental meanings assigned to them by the Victorians.

Pages 74–102 unravels the mystery of the fabrics used in the linings, and reveals the often unnoticed bottoms of the boxes with their beautiful designs and manufacturer’s signatures or markings. The attachment of legs is also examined. Metal composition—Britannia metal to brass and bronze are explained. Fine finishes, from Ormolu gold, to ivory are also covered; as well as the final finishing techniques, such as the bright finish, and the burnishing of gold and silver.

Pages 103–134 transports you into the business and marketing issues of the period
with discussions on trademarks, patents, copyrights, quality control, and sales and
marketing— with a surprising side-trip into the practice of design pirating, which was
a common practice during the early days of manufacturing. This section also contains
25 pages of the popular mail order companies (Montgomery Ward and Marshall Field
shown here), and many major wholesale houses that sold to retailers (Baird-North Co.
shown here). A catalog cover is shown with the pages from the catalog that offered a
selection of jewel boxes to their intended customers.

Pages 135–190 presents the major
manufacturers and their boxes—from Anchor Silver Plate Company to Weidlich Brothers Manufacturing Company, as well as information on boxes manufactured in Germany and imported into the US. You will learn about each company, its products and history. This section displays photos of hundreds of boxes from the author’s collection as they relate to the individual manufacturer. Signature marks (logos)
are also shown for each company.

At the end of each manufacturer section is a list of additional boxes made by that company which are pictured elsewhere in the book. (Last two pages of Jennings Brothers Manufacturing Co. shown here.)

Pages 191–207 — a special treat — begins with “The Language of Flowers” from the 1883
Collier’s Cyclopedia of Social and Commercial Information. This is a listing of hundreds of flowers, herbs, vegetables and trees, with their Victorian meaning:
Rose, White . . . . I am worthy of you.
Cabbage . . . . Profit
Oak Tree . . . . Hospitality.
Then “The Royal Road to the Language of Flowers”, where you will find the plant
to match the occasion:
Bashful shame . . . . Deep Red Rose
Reward of merit . . . . Bay Wreath
Virtue . . . . Mint
Also in this section: Dating of Jewel Boxes,
References (Catalogs, Periodicals and Books cited)
Meaning of Other Common Motifs and Jewel Box Value Guide