Collecing Small Boxes is an Enjoyable Hobby

Collecting small decorative boxes is a hobby that I enjoy. I delight in the beauty of each small box. I love collecting them as souvenirs as well as buying them for collecting purposes. Many of the little boxes that I have are gifts that family and friends have given me. Each one is special and brings me joy as I remember the person, occasion and thought that are represented.

The picture with this article shows only a few of my treasured boxes. The largest one, in the back of the picture, is an antique box. It is made from tortoise shell and is decorated with a small bit of gold paint on the lid. The box is beautiful when the light shines through it. The light passes through the thin material allowing the subtle colors to show. Even in dim light the box has a beautiful appearance. It may have been a powder box.

The small, round box on the right is made from a gourd. My daughter gave it to me as a gift when she returned from a tip to Mexico. The lid was cut by hand so it is very important to carefully line the lid up when replacing it. The colors on this little box are very intense and joyful. I like the floral motif. And it reminds me also of my outing to the Ohio Gourd Society's festival a few years ago. My daughter knew that I enjoyed that trip and it helped her find just the right gift. I love it.

The small ladybug box is a jewelry box. These small enameled boxes are very popular. Another gift, everyone in our family knows that I enjoy ladybugs. I like to see live ones carefully crawling about. I remember as a child marveling at how they could have such round looking bodies and yet they could extend wings and fly away in a flash. In the winter this box reminds me that it won't be long until the ladybugs are back on the windowsill.

The small silver box in the center is a gift from another daughter. This box is carefully tooled and has a piece of decorative tile encased on the lid. The tile piece frames a carefully chosen bird design. The colors of the design on the tile blend nicely with the silver. The overall appearance of this little box is very delicate and yet it is most likely one of the sturdiest.

The decorative box on the left is a gift from my husband. He brought this box back from one of his military trips to the Middle East. The box is lined with a red velvet material. The box has an intricate design created by small bone fragments inlaid in a bone and wood frame. It is beautiful and kind of creepy. I love the box and it is beautiful. I love the fact that my husband chose this gift for me. I just ignore the bone part. Well, ok, I can choose to view and be fascinated with the beautiful properties of the bone fragments.