What Is A Jewelry Armoire?

In a nutshell, jewelry armoire is a jewelry box… or a free standing cabinet that serves the same purpose as that of a jewelry box. However, unlike the conventional jewelry box with its rectangular shape and its lidded top, a jewelry armoire is more substantial in both structure and form. Jewelry armoire also evolved much later on in history as compared to its predecessor: the armoire (or clothes wardrobe.) These days though, furniture pieces of this type are being utilized more than ever before. This is due to the fact that these tall jewelry “boxes” or “cases” or “caskets” (as they are also known) have become less expensive but more functional.

So how does a jewelry armoire differ from a jewelry box?

The difference lies mainly in size and in the material from which the two objects are constructed from. When it comes to size, the armoire is definitely larger and heavier. The most common European and North American jewelry armoires are very tall and quite substantial. Some of these furniture pieces can reach up to 5 feet in height or more; and may be about 3 to 5 feet wide. Aside from hanging cupboards where ropes of necklaces are allowed to dangle as part of the display, some of the most elaborate jewelry armoires have separate drawers for all manner of conceivable sparklers.

For example: small grooved lining within one of the drawers means that this specific compartment is for earrings only. Larger grooved rows are for rings. And taller compartments are relegated to headpieces like tiaras or coronets. The more specialized jewelry armoires even contain drawers for jeweled belts and brooches. There are also several drawers designed to hold matching sets like earnings + necklace + ring (and other sparklers that could complete ones look.)

Ancient Western furniture pieces of this type were usually painted and varnished over. Some of the most noteworthy North American jewelry armoires are sand blasted to achieve a more delicate design.

However, jewelry armoires from the East are usually shorter in stature than their European counterparts. It is quite common to find Asian inspired jewelry armoires that are no taller than 3 feet high and 4 feet long. These contain the same specialized compartments, though. The distinct difference is: ancient Asian armoires are very often painted with rich lacquer.

Additionally, all jewelry armoires are made from heavy wood. Ancient exemplars were very often made from one type of wood only (all oak, or all maple) while craftsmen of later times used a combination of wood pieces to create their pieces.

A plain jewelry box, on the other hand, is usually a table top container. Some of the boxes can be small enough to fit one corner of a night stand, or stored out of sight within a clothes drawer. Ancient jewelry boxes from the West were often made from precious metals like silver, bronze and gold. And these stood no taller than 1½ feet in height.
Their Eastern counterparts were made from different types of lightweight wood, and some were even covered in the finest silks. Jewelry boxes usually had limited compartments, and few carry actual separate drawers.

Modern day jewelry boxes are now made from all sorts of materials, including: plastic, wood, metal and even fiberglass. Musical jewelry boxes are relatively new inventions. These only came to existence in the 19th century – a full 2 centuries later than the emergence of the jewelry armoires.