trinket box

A hummingbird takes flight, abandoning its perch on a jungle leaf. Balinese artisan Eka hand-carves the design in suar wood to create this clever puzzle box. Four pieces fit together smoothly to conceal the contents within the small inner compartment.

Keep all your easily lost items in one place with this lovely decorative box designed by India's Sanjay Garg. Hand carved from natural soapstone, the box features an intricate openwork design with two elephants and a swirling leaf motif.

Walking through a forest of golden foliage, a family of elephants enjoys a day of leisure. This scene of tradition is inspired by the mural paintings of central Thailand. Nantana Sompamitre hand-carves the statuette from mango wood and coats it with several layers of lacquer, which she prepares from the Gluta usitata tree and ashes of burnt rice paddy husks.

Sompamitre executes the moving scene with a traditional gilding technique called lai rot nam (watered pattern). First the patterns are engraved free-hand with a sharp-pointed tool, and then the piece is dusted with a wooden powder. The black background is covered with a yellow gummy paint, which comes from a tree resin that has been placed in water for a day. After that, a thin coat of lacquer is applied to the entire surface and, before it dries, gold leaf is placed over it. The piece is then left to dry for approximately 20 hours. Finally, the whole lacquerware is thoroughly rinsed in water rinsing out impurities or unattached gold leaf. The result is a piece of rich artistry, where shimmering gold engraved designs contrast against a high-gloss black background.

Balinese artisan Sarwaedi presents this lovely decorative box. Hand carved from suar wood into the shape of a dragonfly, the box is composed of several pieces which lock together like a puzzle. The box can be used for decoration or to hold small items such as jewelry.

Emerging amid fertile foliage and flowers, a mysterious woman is carved from crocodile wood. Gusti Ngurah Semarajaya handcrafts a petit jewelry box, painted by hand and lined in velvet.

Guarding precious treasures, a lithe gecko is hand-carved of Balinese suar wood atop this decorative box. Created by local artisans, the box features a finish that displays the wood's gorgeous natural grain. The top lid lifts open to a single-compartment interior for storing small items. Eka presents the box.

Wise and poised, this owl looks out upon with a secret in its heart. When its head is lifted, its body reveals a secret compartment. Nantana Sompamitre designs this box with a tinge of complicity and magnificent artistry. She carves the owl from mango wood using manual tools to achieve an exceptionally detailed piece. Painted by hand, the owl receives several coats of lacquer, which Sompamitre prepares from the Gluta usitata tree and ashes of burnt rice paddy husks.

Singing birds and blooming flowers create an enchanting scene on the surface of this Peruvian jewelry box. The beautiful motifs are embossed by hand in leather on wood, featuring a design by Kelvin Maguiña. Three drawers keep things organized, and a mirror is conveniently situated inside the lid. The chest is lined in red velvet.

Indian elephants parade through a leafy forest. Gulam Rasool depicts them in a regal jewelry box. A master at traditional jali or openwork carving, he works in natural soapstone.

Subin Tositarat's adorable round box is the perfect place for your favorite trinkets. Thai artisans hand carve the box from mango wood, coating the inside and outside with a glossy black lacquer. On the lid, a 24k gold foil elephant pops against the dark background.

Balinese artisan Made Wirata presents this handsome decorative box, carefully carved to resemble a fish. He carves each gill and fin by hand, and forms four pieces that cleverly fit together like a puzzle. The hidden interior compartment can hold a small treasure or trinket.

Peruvian craftsman Daniel Vargas is from Cochas Chico in the El Tambo district of Huancayo province and has been gaining mastery of the Huancayan art of engraving gourds since he was a teenager. Known as mates, the dried gourds are decorated using various engraving and burning techniques. Daniel's design, created by hand, transforms the dried mate gourd into a finely detailed full-figured cat. The top half of the gourd can be lifted up using a painted wooden knob so that small items, accessories, or trinkets can be stored inside.