Historical information
Mass production of Jewelry Boxes began in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. Jewelry boxes came in a variety of sizes. They were made of cast metal, first plated with copper, then silver or gold. They were lined with fine pale coloured silks and often trimmed with a fine twisted silk cording.
The Art Metal boxes during the early 1900s in Art Nouveau style were most popular with floral motifs gaining great favour.
Jennings Brothers were founded in 1890 and produced a variety of objects. Each item is marked with JB and a 3-4 digit catalogue number. They went out of business in 1953. Their dies were purchased by another company to manufacture cheaper replicas of the original products.
Significance
This box displays all of the typical features of a small example of this style of jewellery box or casket, particularly the elaborate Art Nouveau flower motifs decorating the lid and sides. The diamond pattern with floral motives is unusual.
Physical description
Antique silver plated Art Nouveau Jewelry Box (or casket) on legs, lined with silk showing silk-corded edges.Manufactured by Jennings Brothers Company, USA. Base features diamond shapes with floral motive in each shape.
Inscriptions & markings
Base bears the initials JB near bottom left leg and number 113 near top right leg.
'M' scratched in one shape on base.
Subjects
References
- Joanne Wiertella, American Art Metal Jewelry Boxes 1900-1925 Association of Small Collectors of Antique Silver
