18th C Pair of Antique Federal Mahogany Knife Boxes - Conch Shell & Star Inlay

With our highest compliments and utmost honors, Bay Colony Antiques is proud to bring to market this exceptional late 18th / early 19th century antique pair of Federal period Mahogany knife boxes. We’re always in the market for these but unfortunately there aren’t many to be had out there. In a time where your average household had only a few pieces of furniture pairs of knife boxes made from an imported wood were reserved only for the upper class. Due to their delicate nature the majority of period knife boxes have developed splits and seasoning cracks, but these have to be one of the cleanest pairs we’ve came across in years. In addition to being in exceptional condition the boxes employ one of the most desirable forms with a superb conch shell inlay on each lid. We have a database that we created to catalog different inlay patterns from different regions. After looking at hundreds of inlaid Conch shells without finding an exact match we developed a greater appreciation for how well