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.

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.

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.

Base bears the initials JB near bottom left leg and number 113 near top right leg. 'M' scratched in one shape on base.

art nouveau

Antique Art Nouveau-style two piece crumb set 1890 - 1910, also known as a 'silent butler'. These were used in formal dining settings to discretely sweep crumbs from the table between courses. The elaborate asymmetrical organic design was inspired by nature, characteristic of this period. The brush is unusual being made of wood with horsehair bristles more commonly found in clothes brushes of this period. However, the attached silver covering shows similar design features to the pan indicating they were a set.

This is an elaborately designed example of a functional item used to remove crumbs in formal dining setting. Scrapping on the pan indicate it was well used. The Art Nouveau design places it in the late Victorian or Edwardian period. The brush is unusual as most crumb catcher sets include a solid metal scraper rather than a bristle brush.

Two piece Antique Art Nouveau style crumb catcher set. Pan has elaborate asymmetrical floral design. There is evidence of scrapping on flat elements of pan although the design elements are in good condition. Brush is unusual with a wooden handle to which a silver 1mm covering has been attached using small silver nails. Use of horsehair bristles on brush is unusual.

Scratching on right underside rim of pan shows original owners name.

art nouveau