Vintage 1970s Gold-Tone Enamel Crab Jewellery Box Figural Rhinestone Animal UK

Crab-form trinket boxes in cast metal with enamel this detailed are not made like this any more.

A small hinged jewellery box cast in heavy metal and shaped as a crab, the domed shell covered in amber and orange enamel with red inlay patches and scatter-set rhinestones in yellow and clear tones. The legs and claws are cast separately in dark oxidised metal and articulated to fan out realistically. The lid opens along the shell's seam to reveal a reddish-orange enamelled interior, deep enough to hold rings or small earrings.

The style — rich colour, heavy casting, figural animal form — places this in the tradition of decorative Asian export giftware from the 1970s–1980s.

It holds a small collection of rings or studs on a dressing table, or sits as a sculptural object in its own right on a shelf or windowsill. The scale is compact enough to tuck into a vignette without dominating it, but detailed enough to reward close attention.

Details

• Type: Jewellery Box (trinket box)
• Era: 1970s–1980s
• Material: Cast metal, enamel, rhinestone accents
• Interior: Enamel-lined, hinged clamshell opening
• Compartments: Single open chamber — holds rings, studs, small earrings
• Size: 6 × 6 × 4 cm (approx.)
• Weight: 94 g
• Marked: No visible maker's mark
• Style: Figural, animal

Condition

Good · One rear leg is cracked at the base and currently holding; likely to detach with handling. All enamel intact, hinge functions, rhinestones all present.