Egyptian Style Copper and Silver Box

Hey everyone,

Just thought I would share my Egyptian styled copper and Silver Box. My father got it for me when I was 5 years old. I do not know a whole lot about it, but from the searches I have done I have seen similar ones made between 1920 - 1950. Probably not particularly valuable, but I am keeping it anyway. As always, any information or input is welcome, otherwise just enjoy the pictures.



Take care from Australia!

Jason.

 

Hi Jason.
Your dating for the box is right. It is Egyptian-made Egyptian Revival, inspired by ancient Egypt of course.
The Egyptian Revival style first became popular after Napoleon's Egyptian campaign ca. 1800. There have been many revivals since, the most notable one after the discovery in 1922 of the tomb of Tutankhamon. This also started the Egyptian Revival in Egypt itself. The Egyptians had been making decorated copper household items for centuries, and quickly realised that tourists visiting the pyramids and temples wanted a souvenir.
These boxes were often taken back home by Commonwealth military. Another popular item was the Egyptian cigarette holder, decorated with palm trees and camels.

 

Hello AJ!

Thank-you, your replies are always so informative and great to read. I am happy to hear that it is Egyptian made. I have been obsessed with all things Egypt for a very long time Thanks again AJ!

 

Any time Jason.
By the way, I just listed my great-grandmother's Egyptian Revival necklace in our Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/listing/511197...au-egyptian-revival?ref=listing-shop-header-0
I had no idea what price to ask for it, but looked at some other necklaces of the period in other Etsy shops, and entered a lower price than they charged. I usually do.

 

You don't say what year it was when you were 5! I was 5 in 1954 so it makes a difference when you are trying to date something. Better to say what year you received it. Can you show a photo of the interior and the bottom? That also helps with dating.

My mother's older sister, born in 1898, collected a lot of 1920s Egyptian revival stuff which I inherited. In my opinion, but only my opinion, this does not look that old. It also doesn't have the patina one would associate with an older piece, unless it's been highly polished over the years.

 

Receiving something when you are 5, doesn't necessarily mean it was new when you were 5. Especially with hoarders (I mean collectors of course) like Jason's father.
I was given a lot of 30s stuff as a child, but I was born in the 50s.
About the box, I would say 40s-50s, and polished, though not recently.

 

I think mid-century also, but then it wouldn't be Egyptian revival. Photos of the inside may help.

 

It is Egyptian Revival if it is reviving the ancient Egyptian style. It is not just ca 1800, Art Nouveau, or King Tut's tomb. It is a general style which flares up every now and again. There was also a revival period in the 60s inspired by the 1963 movie 'Cleopatra' with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.

 

Quite right, I forgot to post the year that I was 5, it was way back in nineteen hundred and ninety-one. I can confirm that it has been polished a few times in the 90's. My father recalls that the man he bought it off acquired it in the 40's, at least that was his story. My Father only paid a few dollars for it.

 

It's a beautiful box! I've seen boxes of this size being used to store cigarettes. Is that what this is?

 

Hello Shangas and thank-you for the comment! Funny you should say that, Dad said it was used to store cigars so you might be on the money with your thoughts.

 

Yes, these boxes were sold as cigarette and cigar boxes, and often brought home by returning servicemen. Maybe women too, but they might have preferred beautiful Egyptian jewellery. 1940s would be right, likely an Australian soldier returning home with this after WWII.
There is no need to polish it unless you feel it is getting too tarnished. Too much polishing wears the design.

 

Australian troops saw action in Africa during WWII, including Egypt. So it's not beyond the realm of possibility that this was some sort of souvenir piece purchased by an Australian soldier and brought home during or after the war.

 

Two of my favorite things are boxes and my aunt's Egyptian collection so I'm still dying to see the inside.....

 

I am a compulsive box collector, especially wooden ones. I keep telling myself and others that they are handy to keep all sorts of 'stuff' in. I keep jewellery in a lot of them.

 

I just keep all sorts of things in boxes. I can't resist them.