 |
Treasure Chests
Round and square boxes are the most common shapes, Courtney
says. The
vertical ring holder (n) is extremely rare. Prices generally start at
around $60 for the boxes, which rarely exceed 2 inches high, wide, and
deep; but Courtney says an extraordinary ster-
ling box recently sold for
$1,300. Inside, most of her ring holders are velvet with satin-lined
lids (see o, p, and q).
Though made from the late 1800s through
about 1960, the boxes were most popular in the first four decades of
the 1900s. Birk's made the silver ring boxes mostly for export to
Canadian jewelers, who
gave them as premiums to men purchasing
engagement or wedding rings. One of Courtney's step boxes (r)
appeared in last year's movie The Notebook. And when John Kennedy Jr.
proposed to Carolyn Bessette, he presented the diamond in a square,
vintage Birk's box.
Metal Detecting
Courtney Hildebrand's website, ringboxesgalore.com, is a silver mine of
information about ring boxes.
Highly sought after, these treasures are
becoming increasingly scarce. Enid Hubbard suggests checking in jewelry
cases at antiques shops and shows.
Courtney displays ring boxes at her
mother's shop, Fern and Feather in Stuttgart, Arkansas, (800) 678-2656.
Try online auctions like eBay.com.
Ring Bearers page
1 |
2
 Stumble It!
archive »
Printer Friendly Article
|
