Caskets: varieties, design and secrets of choice

Every home has important little things that should be kept in a safe place. Jewelry, small souvenirs, postcards, letters, documents and other things can be stored in boxes. It can be just a container that allows you to group the contents, or it can be an independent decorative element or a designer product for decorating your home, or a cache that is locked with a key. There are many options. Consider the main types of boxes, and also figure out how to choose the right one.

According to historians, boxes appeared in ancient times. The name came to the Russian language from the Italian word scatola, which means "box". Such items have always been used to store valuables. They were probably created by analogy with chests. The size was only reduced.

Judging by archaeological research, in Ancient Egypt, boxes were mainly made of faience and metal. Gilding was actively used. The Romans made mini-boxes from bronze, ivory, wood. In Asia of past years, porcelain and silk were used, less often wood.

The well-known Queen Cleopatra kept jewelry and incense in a box. Many ruling persons of the past had mini-vaults for money, gold, stones, securities. Many ancient examples were equipped with locks to protect the contents.

In the 19th century, products with a “secret” appeared. Such a box could only be opened by performing certain actions. For example, secret buttons were used that had to be pressed sequentially.

At all times, not ordinary containers for storing things were especially appreciated, but skillfully made objects that attract admiring glances. Talented craftsmen were held in high esteem. The boxes were decorated with expensive fabrics, leather, precious stones. Carving, chasing, embroidery were used in the manufacture.

Before the onset of the technical revolution, all such items were made by hand. They were very expensive and were considered a symbol of luxury and prosperity. Only wealthy people could afford to have such handicrafts, which were often inherited. Over time, mini chests became easier and more affordable. They began to be used for storing needlework sets, personal care items. Music boxes have appeared that combine several functions at once.

Today, vintage handmade caskets are expensive. These pieces of history are very popular with antique collectors. Modern products are very diverse. Among them there are both elite items and options available to all. They are made from different materials, have a different shape, size, purpose.

In order not to get lost in the variety of options, you need to have an idea of ​​the main types of such products.

Some mini chests can be used for different purposes. These are beautiful medium-sized containers of different shapes. (round, square, rectangular). They can have one large compartment or 2-3 compartments.

These are large rectangular boxes that can hold A4 or A5 documents. The inside can be finished with a soft cloth. Some units are available with a key or combination lock. Such a product is no longer a simple organizer, but a cache in which very important documentation can be stored.

Any design is possible. It can be a carved or painted vintage box or a laconic modern product in a business style.

These are products with drawers for storing jewelry. Usually, the design of such things allows them to take their rightful place on any woman's dressing table.

Usually, there is a well-thought-out system of different compartments... There are special compartments for rings, chains and other jewelry. Often the interior is finished with soft velvet or velor. The fabric protects items from scratches and other damage. There may be special grooves, dividers, hooks.

Typically, these boxes look like a mini-chest of drawers, in which the compartments are located in several floors. Some models have a handle and resemble a small suitcase. Such products can also be locked with a key. This allows you to save treasures not only from robbers, but also from children, who often do not understand the value of gold items.

You shouldn't just put expensive watches on the shelf. It is advisable to purchase a special box for them. It can be ordinary (protects the product from dust and mechanical damage) or has a winding function.

The latter variety is intended for mechanical models. Such boxes are equipped with a special mechanism, which is automatically produced by the accessory factory. This has a positive effect on the performance of the watch and its durability.

The appearance of such containers is usually quite presentable. They are made of wood, MDF. Natural or artificial leather is often used in production. The top of the box can be transparent.

This variety should be considered separately, because it stands out not in purpose, but in form. A transformer is not an ordinary box or mini-chest of drawers, but a unique complex design.

A seemingly ordinary container is transformed by opening in different directions (up and in different directions). This allows you to fit a decent amount of small things into a compact and neat box. A transformer can be either a pretty lady's case for jewelry, or an ordinary wooden box in which you can store any items.

Himitsu-Bako is a unique type of caskets, the production of which can be called an independent direction in art. These are Japanese secret boxes. Each product consists of several parts (from different types of wood).

There is no castle here. However, to open the box, you need to perform several consecutive actions. Some parts need to be moved in a certain direction, others need to be pressed.

For each product, a secret is invented that needs to be unraveled. The simplest specimens are opened after 4-10 manipulations. The most difficult ones require more than a hundred movements. The top of most of these boxes is a variegated wooden mosaic.

These boxes were very popular in the past. However, even today they conquer many with a combination of exquisite design and gentle music. Some models are wound manually. Others start playing automatically when the lid is opened. Products are often supplied with figures of ballerinas, princesses, swans or couples in love, which whirl to the sound of a melody.

Some models have a purely decorative function. They decorate a shelf or dressing table and delight the hosts and their guests with musical accompaniment. Others have one or more compartments in their structure for storing small items.

A variety of raw materials are used to create caskets.

Wood is an environmentally friendly material that is still actively used in the manufacture of boxes. An array of cedar, maple, rosewood and other species can be used in production... In most cases, this is handicraft, which is highly regarded. Products are made exclusive thanks to artistic cutting or painting.

Solid industrial models look very solid and presentable. They can be decorated with leather, metal or glass elements, and have a fabric lining. On sale you can find lacquer models that attract the eye not only by design, but also by the beautiful natural texture of wood. And also there are painted options.

We should also mention products made of birch bark. This is the bark of a young birch, which is an excellent material for making mini-chests. These boxes are lightweight and distinctive in appearance. They can be of any shape, but the internal structure of such products is quite simple. They attract buyers with environmental friendliness, exquisite patterns on the surface, and an affordable price.

Such products differ in budgetary cost. Of course, even openwork, laser-cut plywood products cannot be compared to carved solid wood models. But with the help of paint, varnish or decorative film, such products can be given any color and texture.

Often, solid blanks from MDF are purchased by lovers of decoupage technique. This handicraft trend transforms an unremarkable item into a luxurious vintage piece with a strong personality.

Plastic boxes are perfect for kids. It can be a toy case for baby cosmetics or just a brightly colored product in which you can store any “treasures” of your child. Such boxes are not afraid of falls.

They are lightweight, easy to clean, and cheap. Pink, purple, yellow and other juicy colors attract the attention of babies, and beautiful drawings decorating the products turn them into a welcome toy for every child.

Adults can also use plastic boxes. For example, in such a mini-chest you can store a set for needlework, stationery and other small things. Of course, the design in this case will be more restrained (for example, a monochromatic calm color).

Today, metal boxes are rarely made.Basically, these are tin containers designed for storing tea and decorated with a pattern on the outside. And here among antiques you can see many cast iron, pewter and even silver and gold boxes... Sometimes silver or gold was used as the top decorative layer, and sometimes the piece was made entirely of precious metal.

Ceramic and porcelain items always look sophisticated. The designs and colors of these boxes are varied. These are both monochromatic snow-white models and objects painted using the Gzhel technique. Delicate floral motifs, vintage paintings and picturesque landscapes are not the whole list of images that adorn such things. In addition, on sale you can find real works of art that attract attention with their form.

The lid of the container can be decorated with voluminous birds, butterflies, angels. You can purchase a box in the form of a seashell, a basket of puppies, or even a mermaid sitting on a stone. The imagination of the masters is limitless, so everyone can find an option to their liking.

Crystal boxes look luxurious. The edges of the transparent material sparkle in the sun. Products seem weightless and sophisticated.

However, it should be understood that in such a container, all the contents are in plain sight. Therefore, such models are used mainly for storing jewelry or other beautiful items. Often, crystal products are just decorative elements that are put in a showcase for beauty.

Items made of jasper, onyx, malachite, mother-of-pearl and other valuable stones are quite expensive. However, connoisseurs of natural beauty consider such a cost to be quite justified. Usually, jewelry is kept in such boxes. At the same time, the products themselves are spectacular interior elements.

Often, models are decorated with gilded or silver-plated details that emphasize the texture of the stone and make items even more luxurious and high-profile. Of course, the weight of such products is considerable, while many of them are rather fragile, which increases the risk of chips. Stone objects are not intended to be moved frequently and should not be given to children. But it is possible and even necessary to put such a thing on a shelf or on a desk in the office. You will never get tired of admiring it.

Glass boxes can resemble graceful crystal objects in appearance, while the cost of such products will be much cheaper. And also it can be a laconic modern version, for example, in the form of a plexiglass cube. It should be noted that the material does not have to be transparent. Many models are painted in bright colors.

Stained glass options look interesting. As a rule, these are antique boxes in the old style, although some manufacturers still resort to this technique.

Often glass or mirrored elements are only part of the item.made of a different material (for example, wood). The transparent lid allows you to see what is inside. The mirror on the inside of the box is an equally practical piece. Usually it is mounted on a female box, allows you to try on jewelry and immediately evaluate your appearance.

Leather products are pleasant to the touch and look solid. Both natural and artificial leather are used in the production. The material can be smooth or embossed, any color.

Such models are quite practical. They are not afraid of falls, and dirt can be easily removed with a damp cloth. The cost depends on the type of material, the size of the item and the design. The purpose of such boxes can be anything.

The dimensions of the boxes are varied. For example, for rings, you can purchase a miniature box with a diameter of several centimeters. For documents, manufacturers make large items that can hold large sheets and even entire folders. A cosmetic or jewelry box can be either small or quite large, including many compartments arranged in several tiers.

The assortment is so large that everyone can choose an option for their needs. In the store, you can visually estimate the size of the product and guess what items and in what quantity can fit in it. If you make a purchase via the Internet, you can see the parameters of the product in its description.

The boxes also differ in their design.

Products of modern design, as a rule, have laconic forms. Wooden boxes are usually smooth with a neat lock. If there is a thread, it is only a small part of the cover. First of all, there are models of a business, austere style, varnished. The natural texture and shade of wood are preserved here.

Women's options can be decorated with rhinestones, glass or metal inserts with a pattern. And it is also possible to paint in any color (red, green, purple, and so on). White, pink models are especially popular. Tiffany's color does not go out of fashion either. Often products are sheathed in leather of all kinds of shades.

Geometric carved boxes look quite distinctive. Even products made today look like they were created a long time ago. Of course, this does not prevent connoisseurs from admiring the beauty of carved models, because some of them resemble fabulous caskets.

It is impossible not to mention the boxes decorated using decoupage technique. The result is beautiful Provence and Shabby Chic pieces. Angels, lush roses, peacocks in the Gardens of Eden, images of young ladies in clothes of past centuries are combined here with the effect of artificial aging of the surface.

Such mini-storage facilities can decorate any country house. In a city apartment in the appropriate interior, such a thing can also look very appropriate.

Hand-painted boxes can be called true works of art. Khokhloma, Gorodets painting, Gzhel, Zhostovo - the choice is huge. Of course, such items do not look very modern. However, collectors and connoisseurs of folk crafts are happy to purchase such boxes. It can be just a box with a lid or a product in the form of a nesting doll. In any case, the item will have an individual bright design.

Another specific type of caskets are models in the oriental style. Of course, in Japan, China and other distant countries, they are traditional. However, there are also fans of such things in Russia. Indian patterns, Japanese hieroglyphs, the image of sakura and other characteristic oriental motifs conquer with their sophistication and exoticism.

In addition to round, square, rectangular boxes, manufacturers also offer original options. The simplest ones include models in the shape of a heart, a chest or a Faberge egg. More interesting are objects that at first glance do not even look like a casket. It can be a piano, carriage, sewing machine, flowering tree, or something else. As a rule, these are gift options that allow you to surprise a loved one with an unusual, but at the same time, practical decor element.

When choosing a box for yourself or as a gift, there are a few key points to consider. First of all, think about what you or the person to whom the present is intended will store in the box. The woman will be delighted with a mini-case for jewelry. The size in this case is selected based on the amount of jewelry or jewelry available.

If in doubt about the choice of shade, take white version. This is a neutral color, which, even if it does not cause delight, will definitely not create negative impressions. You should be careful with bright colors. A pink, red, purple or turquoise model is worth buying only if you are sure that the person being gifted likes a particular color.

A man can use a watch box. Here, the matter with the choice of design is easier, since most of the models have a rather strict appearance.

If a person is fond of collecting, the best gift for him will be a new interesting specimen. It can be a painted wooden model, a natural stone box or a porcelain piece. It all depends on the nature of the collection.

If you want to leave a good memory of yourself, make an individual order for the box with engraving... The inscription can be made on wood or metal. It can unobtrusively complement the design of the product or become its key element. You can write whatever you want - the name of the person being gifted, a sincere wish, a declaration of love, or something else. In any case, such a gift will touch a person to the core.

If the gifted person is somehow connected with the sea (for example, is fond of sailing) or just loves this topic, you can give him a nautical-style box... Blue-blue scale, mini-steering wheel, image of a sailing ship will inspire dreamy thoughts and cheer you up.

In memory of a pleasant vacation, you can present a product decorated with shells. You can even create such a gift with your own hands, you just need to buy a blank, find a decor and set aside a little time for creativity.

Of course, you should understand that hand-made items, as well as "frivolous" options in the form of hearts and plastic boxes with funny drawings are appropriate only as a gift to friends or relatives.

If you choose a present for a colleague or manager, the box must be solid., have a sophisticated yet discreet design. For such cases, options with leather trim in soothing shades, lacquered models from precious woods, and stone products are perfect. If you are not sure about the purpose of the gift, let it be a versatile, medium-sized model.

If it will stand in a conspicuous place, it makes sense to choose a solid or original version. If the box will simply perform the function of storing small things and, most likely, will be hidden in a desk drawer, you can choose a laconic and inexpensive model.

And finally, several options for interesting boxes.

In jewelry boxes, everything is thought out to the smallest detail. There is a place for each item.

Watch winder - a stylish and status item.

Crystal in combination with golden elements looks especially solemn and sophisticated.

Burgundy genuine leather and a decorative carved insert create beautiful and functional item.

Wooden models still look charming today. An excellent choice for connoisseurs of natural materials.

For an example of how to make a box with your own hands, see below.