Handmade Wooden Jewellery Boxes

Small handmade boxes have a charm all of their own.  They were often made as a labour of love to be given as a special gift to a loved one.  This is most certainly the case for at least two of these boxes and in some way for one of the others as well.  I will share their stories as best I can as I know the history of three of these boxes but can only speculate as to the origin of the last one.

The first two boxes were made by my father well over 60 years ago.  I have already featured the first box in a previous post about Mum's Treasure as it was my mother's jewellery box.  Dad gave it to her before they were married.  The second box box was made for Dad's sister, my Auntie Joan, and was probably intended to be handkerchief box.  Both these boxes are fully veneered, inside and out, with different types of wood.

Mum's jewellery box

Mum's jewellery box showing hinged lid

Auntie Joan's handkerchief box with lift off lid

Not sure what different veneers Dad used on these boxes except for the silky oak in the centre of the handkerchief box.  The dark veneers are probably some type of walnut and I expect some of the other lighter ones to be maple (maybe even Queensland maple).



The next box is not quite as old.  It is actually one that I made in high school in woodwork class about 45 years ago.  My Mum used it as a jewellery box as well.

My high school woodwork project - a silky oak jewellery box

I made this jewellery box from silky oak (not that I had any choice of material - just used what the teacher gave me).  Silky oak is not really a favourite timber of mine though I have really come to appreciate it more and more over the years.  We probably have more pieces of furniture in our home made from this timber than any other, except for pine.   The desk I sit at each day for work is made from silky oak as is the set of pigeon holes that sit on it.  My favourite Australian native timber, however, is still red cedar.

I think this box was still unfinished when I gave it to my Mum all those years ago and I believe that it was my Dad who polished it up using Danish Oil or some other similar product.  It remained in an unadorned state for about half of its life when my Mum asked me to folk art it for her.  I had been taking folk art classes and so took it home to paint.  The box sat around home for quite a while before I finally got the courage up to have a go.  I chose a violet pattern to adorn this jewellery box as it was my Mums favourite flower.  In the end I was rather pleased with the result and so was Mum.

Violet folk art detail on top of silky oak jewellery box

The last of the four boxes is probably the most unusual in shape, construction and origin but certainly is an interesting piece of Australiana.  I acquired it from a friends stall at my Bottle and Collectables Club Christmas Breakup Show.  I was told that it was found at a flea market many years ago by his father-in-law.  It was now time to move it on and I was happy to oblige by taking it of his hands.

Silky oak and red cedar jewellery box

It is made from both silky oak and red cedar, quite an unusual combination of woods.  The lid is silky oak while the base and body of the box are made from red cedar.  Both the lid and the body are made of two pieces skilfully joined down the middle whereas the base is one single piece.  The base almost looks to me as though it has been put on upside down as the chamfered edge runs under the box.

Top of jewellery box showing faded decoration

The lid is also decorated with what looks like the initials "a w",  some small bunches of cherries (?) in each corner as well as some other decoration.  This looks as though it may have been drawn on in pen as there doesn't seem to be any evidence of engraving from pokerwork.

Jewellery box interior showing hinged lid and red velvet lining

The interior of the box also clearly shows the unusually thick cedar walls.  Each side would have been cut from a single solid block of wood.  This would have then been cut into two pieces that were mirror images of each other and then rejoined to create this fancy shape.  Rather quite a lot of work for a little box.


Who made this piece?  Why was it made?  How old is it?  Was this an apprentice piece or maybe a school exercise like my silky oak jewellery box?  Why did they use silky oak for the lid and not more red cedar?  Why put the base on as they did?  And who is "a. w."?  All questions that most likely will never be answered but are fun to ponder.

Mum's Treasure

My Mum, Marjorie Mavis Stevens, passed away peacefully in the early hours of Sunday the 22nd of April.  She was 84 years old.  This post is in memory of her.

Since her passing, I have been thinking about what material treasures Mum had.  As I did this I realised that the material things she treasured most were the things that were given to her either as a handmade gift or as a special keepsake from a family member or friend.  What follows is but a few examples of these treasures.

Inlaid Jewellery Box made for Mum by my Dad

My Dad made this jewellery box for Mum before they were married in 1949.  Dad was very good with his hands and made many items of furniture, toys and gifts throughout his life.  Mum treasured these items.  This box is not only inlaid on top but also fully veneered both inside and out.

Some treasure inside

Inside we can see a few more of my Mum's treasured items.  These trinkets were handed down to me for safekeeping quite sometime ago.  Because of my interest in antiques, collectables and our own family history, our home seems to have become the final resting place for our family archives.  Everyone knows that John would never throw these things out.  I don't mind though as these things are real treasures to me and it is nice to know that they are all safely kept together.

Photo frame, brooch, fob watch and chain from the jewellery box

The small rolled gold frame houses two photos of Mum's parents, my grandparents.  Mum had fond memories of her parents.

I never knew my Grandmother Bergstrum as she died before I was born.  Mum nursed her in her final years.  Though she found this time hard, she willingly did this out of love for her mother and a strong sense of duty of being the youngest daughter still living at home.



I only have some vague memories of my Grandfather Bergstrum as he died when I was a child.  At least I have some photographs.








The brooch was another of Dad's creations which made it very special to Mum.  Dad made this out of two coins, a halfpenny and a threepence, and gave it to Mum before they were married.  This was not the only piece of jewellery that Dad made for Mum.  He also made a small silver heart shaped locket out of a two shilling piece.  Not sure how legal it was to be cutting up the currency at the time.

Dad carefully cut the Australian coat of arms out of a silver threepence.  He then mounted this in the centre of a copper halfpenny with some raised scalloping.  Why he chose to use coins with the date of 1914 on them will most likely remain a mystery.  Maybe it was to commemorate the beginning of World War 1 or maybe it was just two coins that he had with matching dates.  Who knows?

This brooch could possibly fall into the category of trench art.

This rear view shows how the pin is fixed to the back of the brooch.  Obviously neatness to the rear was not quite as important as to the front.  Still not a bad effort Dad especially when you look at how he cut out the coat of arms.

The brooch and a halfpenny and threepence

The silver fob watch belonged to my Grandfather Bergstrum.  I remember playing with this when we were just kids.  This was unfortunate as we were probably the ones who broke the hands off and also contributed to its rather battered look.  Needless to say, this watch doesn't run anymore.

The case of the fob watch is nicely engraved all over.  A letter 'B' for Bergstrum can be seen engraved in a shield on the front.

The rear of the fob watch shows more engraving.











The watch is marked '935' inside the case which I believe may be a continental silver mark rather than an English mark.

The fully hallmarked silver Albert chain (fob watch chain) with 15ct gold fob also belonged to my Grandfather Bergstrum.  The hallmarks would date this chain to Birmingham 1915.  Each individual link of this chain is hallmarked and there is also a makers mark 'HP' on the T bar and clasps. I presume that the fob watch was once attached to this chain. 

Mum and I at Easter 2012

I take great comfort knowing that Mum is now at peace with her Lord and that she has been reunited with her beloved Jack (my Dad) in heaven.