Overview
An elegant rectangular box in green onyx, Italian, 1970s, with warm brass mounts. A luxurious desk or vanity object in richly veined, translucent stone, its hinged lid opening to a smooth onyx interior.
 
Description
This box captures the glamorous, material-rich taste of 1970s Italian design, when semi-precious stones such as onyx were paired with brass to create refined accessories for the modern interior.
It is built from panels of green onyx — translucent and beautifully veined in shades of sage green, cream, amber and rust-red — framed and hinged in brass. The lid lifts on a brass hinge to reveal a smooth onyx interior with a brass rim, and each panel shows the unique banding of the natural stone, so that no two sides are alike. The box is raised on small feet.
 
Design & Function
Conceived as a lidded box, it is ideal as a cigarette box, a jewellery or trinket box, or a catch-all for small objects on a desk, console or dressing table. The brass-hinged lid opens and closes smoothly, while the weight of the stone gives it a reassuring, luxurious presence.
Beyond its function, it is a glamorous decorative accent that brings the natural beauty of onyx into the interior.
 
Materials & Aesthetic
The appeal lies in the pairing of translucent green onyx and warm brass — a signature combination of 1970s Italian design. The stone's natural banding, with its veils of green, honey and red, catches the light and makes each example one of a kind, while the brass mounts add warmth and a jewel-like, finished quality.
The onyx retains its natural polish, with the veining, inclusions and subtle variations inherent to the stone.
 
Technical Details
Product: Green Onyx and Brass Lidded Catch-all Box Italy 1970
Designer: Unattributed (Italian manufacture)
Manufacturer: Italian production — unmarked
Period: 1970s
Materials: Green onyx; brass (hinge, mounts and rim)
Dimensions: Width 15cm | Depth 10cm | Height 5cm
Condition: Please note that this item is in good vintage condition. The onyx is intact and well-polished; its veining, inclusions and tonal variations are natural characteristics of the stone. Small nicks to the edges may be present, as is common with onyx, and the brass shows a light patina consistent with age. The hinged lid opens and closes correctly. We kindly invite you to take these characteristics into consideration before purchasing.
Functionality: Hinged lidded box — cigarette box, trinket or jewellery box, or catch-all
 
Collectibility
1970s onyx-and-brass objects are highly decorative and increasingly sought after for their material warmth and Hollywood Regency glamour. This box is a versatile, elegant accent — equally at home on a desk, bar or dressing table — and a refined complement to other stone and brass pieces of the period.
 
Designer & Manufacturer
This box belongs to the tradition of Italian onyx-and-brass accessories produced in the 1960s and 1970s, when workshops transformed semi-precious stones into smoking sets, boxes, ashtrays and lamps for the modern interior. Although unsigned, it is a characteristic and well-made example, prized today for the natural beauty of the onyx and the warmth of its brass mounts.