Bequai Small Glass Jewellery Box - Antique Brass

A shallow glass and brass box, 20cm by 21cm and 3.5cm deep, with a hinged lid and a small brass catch at the front edge. The panels are clear glass held in soldered brass strips. Inside, more glass strips divide the floor into a grid of small square compartments, each one open at the top and none of them lidded. The base is mirrored, so the compartments show twice over when the lid is down.

The compartments are shallow and they are what the box is for: rings, studs, cufflinks and small pins, kept apart from each other rather than in a heap. At 3.5cm deep it sits flat and low on a dressing table, a chest of drawers or a bathroom shelf, and the clear lid leaves the contents visible, so what is inside is the pattern.

The frame is brass and the panels are glass, soldered together by hand with traditional tools. That leaves weld marks along the joins, heavier in some places than in others, and the brass is left rustic and unpolished under its antique tone rather than bright. The Bequai range also runs to an open jewellery box and to wall hung jewellery boxes in two sizes.

How big is it?

20cm by 21cm and 3.5cm deep. It weighs 1.02kg.

What is it made from?

Brass and glass, with a mirror for the base.

Does the lid open?

Yes. It is hinged along the back and has a small brass catch at the front.

What are the marks along the metal joins?

Solder. The brass is worked around the glass by hand with traditional tools, so the welds show, and they fall differently on every box.

How do I look after it?

Wipe the brass over with a soft dry cloth, and use a microfibre cloth in a circular motion on the glass. Keep harsh chemicals and abrasive cleaners away from the finish.