Help Finding A Mele or Mid-Century Jewelry Box

[YadaYadaYada]

Hello vintage loving friends. We were recently visiting some antique shops and while browsing I came upon a mid-century musical jewelry box. For kicks I opened up the box to see if it worked and the smell immediately took me back to my childhood. I don't know if it was the leather or the velvet lining but I have to find one because for some reason it triggers very happy memories of my childhood (which was not great overall).

Ideally the box would have a ballerina that spins, and be in relatively good shape. The one I remember was a leather type material outside and velvet inside. I have found one on Ebay for around $45 in a really pretty blue but there is a little gash in the top and I don't know if it would bother me so looking to see if there are any better ones someone maybe has stumbled across? Also no idea what a reasonable price is for these? I did find a pretty pink one that came with jewelry inside (nothing major) but there was no ballerina and the kid in me really wants one!

 

[stracci2000]

Of course I had one of those! Mine was white with pink interior.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-ME...206375?hash=item23a94c5127:g:F1MAAOSwAnlbjG-Z

 

[VRBeauty]

I had one of those too! Pretty sure my father gave it to me!

 

[YadaYadaYada]

You guys remember that smell they have or is it just my crazy head @VRBeauty @stracci2000?

I have DH scouring the Internet with me to find one. This one is my ideal thus far:

https://m.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Mele...:QtkAAOSwbQZbecBI:sc:USPSPriority!06457!US!-1

 

[stracci2000]

You guys remember that smell they have or is it just my crazy head @VRBeauty @stracci2000?

I have DH scouring the Internet with me to find one. This one is my ideal thus far:

https://m.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Mele...:QtkAAOSwbQZbecBI:sc:USPSPriority!06457!US!-1

Madam, this box is not big enough for all your sparklies. Especially all those diamond rings you have accumulated recently!

 

[YadaYadaYada]

Ha! Then I will need two! But only one must have a ballerina

I think you have me beat in the sparklies dept @stracci2000 aka collector of old cuts from the pawn shop. Technically I only have three diamond rings, the Traub, miner and OEC and then my three row band I wear all the time. The rest is inventory and technically the OEC and Traub are supposed to be as well

 

[peacechick]

I will look on Etsy for you.

Would you consider custom making one from a company like this?
http://etsy.me/2yLP52h

They offer a choice of wooden box, ballerina and music.

 

[peacechick]

Not a jewelry box, but my word is it glamorous!
https://etsy.me/2NbCzW7

This shop has a ton of these vintage boxes, you may find one you like here. Love that this one is a waltzing couple:
https://etsy.me/2CVjhiN

 

[peacechick]

You guys remember that smell they have or is it just my crazy head @VRBeauty @stracci2000?

I have DH scouring the Internet with me to find one. This one is my ideal thus far:

https://m.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Mele...:QtkAAOSwbQZbecBI:sc:USPSPriority!06457!US!-1

Oh this one is beautiful! I think the ones I found are all way out of budget. You should get this even with the little gash.

 

[YadaYadaYada]

Hey @peacechick thank you for posting those, they are beautiful but yes out of my budget. Believe it or not a lot of times the ones like the one I posted will go for closer to $20 so that one is nice but the price gives me pause.

 

[YadaYadaYada]

Took a trip to the estate shop down the street and found these, no ballerina but they were $3.50 each! It's funny because the green one is nicer on the outside but the velvet has spots on the inside but love the color combo. The other one looks nearly pristine inside but a little haggard on the outside. Planning on going to some bigger ones over the weekend and hoping to find the holy grail jewelry box lol!

There was a rattle in the second box so I carefully lifted the velvet up and found that little rhinestone and the tag for Richelieu poppits. Kind of cool, a diamond would have been even better!

 

[peacechick]

Took a trip to the estate shop down the street and found these, no ballerina but they were $3.50 each! It's funny because the green one is nicer on the outside but the velvet has spots on the inside but love the color combo. The other one looks nearly pristine inside but a little haggard on the outside. Planning on going to some bigger ones over the weekend and hoping to find the holy grail jewelry box lol!

There was a rattle in the second box so I carefully lifted the velvet up and found that little rhinestone and the tag for Richelieu poppits. Kind of cool, a diamond would have been even better!

What pretty boxes, I really like the second one! Too bad it’s not a diamond but still a neat find.

Yeah I think visiting the estate antique shops would probably be the way to go for finding the perfect box. Good luck!

 

[stracci2000]

Took a trip to the estate shop down the street and found these, no ballerina but they were $3.50 each! It's funny because the green one is nicer on the outside but the velvet has spots on the inside but love the color combo. The other one looks nearly pristine inside but a little haggard on the outside. Planning on going to some bigger ones over the weekend and hoping to find the holy grail jewelry box lol!

There was a rattle in the second box so I carefully lifted the velvet up and found that little rhinestone and the tag for Richelieu poppits. Kind of cool, a diamond would have been even better

Haha, Steph, I have a very similar jewelry box!
Mine is green with pink interior. And it still has a key.
About finding diamonds, I once bought a jewelry armoire from Goodwill, and while looking through the drawers, DH spotted a little diamond! I used it in the snake ring I made a while ago.
Also, I once bought a jewelry box from a thrift shop, and like you, I heard a rattle inside. Two small rings, one silver and one gold, had fallen through the ring slots and had gotten lost inside.

 

[YadaYadaYada]

Wow, I love that one and it looks to be in excellent shape inside AND has the key, how amazing after all these years!

Something about that color combo is just

 

[LJsapphire]

Of course I had one of those! Mine was white with pink interior.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-ME...206375?hash=item23a94c5127:g:F1MAAOSwAnlbjG-Z

my mum has a green one (iirc) similar to that

 

[YadaYadaYada]

So I learned something new today, this might be helpful for those who buy to resell or collectors. Apparently these jewelry boxes with a ballerina are very highly collectible, we went to a bunch of antique and vintage stores today and I did not find even one.

In talking to a couple of shop owners they told me that people have come in and asked for them and another said if you ever see one, buy it because they are impossible to find.

Well it so happens there is one for sale locally that DH found and the seller sent a video with the music playing and ballerina twirling and the best part? They are asking $15! So that's better than the $44 for the one on Ebay which sold today!

 

[Bron357]

I still have my jewellery box, over 50 years old now, sans ballerina.
I actually collect unusual music boxes so wanted to show you this treasure.
When it opens up it has 6 crystal shot glasses.
I love it.
My dream would be to own one of those singing bird music boxes, they are however thousands and thousands of dollars theses days.

 

[YadaYadaYada]

Okay @Bron357, you win the prize, who can compete with a jewelry box with shot glasses?!

That is a very pretty one with those wildflowers and so unique! Love it.

 

[Bron357]

Okay @Bron357, you win the prize, who can compete with a jewelry box with shot glasses?!

That is a very pretty one with those wildflowers and so unique! Love it.

Thank you
When you press the button on top, the music starts and slowly the doors open to reveal the shot glasses. Press the button again, and the music re starts and the doors then close.
Chinese made I believe with a Swiss music movement - circa 1950 / 1960 when such kitsch things were all the rage,

 

[Ally T]

I still have one of these! My mum thinks it was for my 5th Birthday & I'm 44 now. Apart from a bit of sun damage to the pictures & the odd nick to the felt, it's still ok & my daughter's use it for beads. It still winds, plays music & she still spins

 

[YadaYadaYada]

@Alex T, love it! Also how wonderful that your daughter gets to enjoy it now and it still works after all these years.

ETA- not to imply you are old! Geesh I read that and said I hope she doesn't take that the wrong way!

 

[Ally T]

@StephanieLynn Honestly, you've very sweet, but that music box is OLD!! My girls love it! What is also kept in there with the 'treasures' is Lizzie The Lizard. She's the top half of a long dead creature my youngest found in Cyprus a couple of summers ago. She saved her from complete obliteration & Lizzie's empty, leathery upper half lives in that box. If only I knew, 39 years ago, what would be kept inside my precious jewel box!!!!

 

[Ally T]

Meet Lizzie The Lizard....

 

[YadaYadaYada]

When you said Lizzie the lizard I wasn't expecting a real one! Gave me a good laugh there.

That's okay, in my freezer are vials of frozen insects that my son put in there. I don't know what he plans on doing with them and I'm not going to go asking

 

[Ally T]

If only we could remember what goes through our minds at that age?!!

 

[Calliecake]

Haha, Steph, I have a very similar jewelry box!
Mine is green with pink interior. And it still has a key.
About finding diamonds, I once bought a jewelry armoire from Goodwill, and while looking through the drawers, DH spotted a little diamond! I used it in the snake ring I made a while ago.
Also, I once bought a jewelry box from a thrift shop, and like you, I heard a rattle inside. Two small rings, one silver and one gold, had fallen through the ring slots and had gotten lost inside.

Okay @stracci2000 , I know there is no way that jewelry box could hold all your rings!!!

Stephanie, My parents are always looking at Antique Shops. I’ll ask my mom to keep an eye for a jewelry box with a ballerina for you. If she finds one, I’ll send it to you.

 

[stracci2000]

Okay @stracci2000 , I know there is no way that jewelry box could hold all your rings!!!

Stephanie, My parents are always looking at Antique Shops. I’ll ask my mom to keep an eye for a jewelry box with a ballerina for you. If she finds one, I’ll send it to you.

Yeah, that silly thing only has 4 ring slots. Who only has 4 rings?!

 

[Calliecake]

Yeah, that silly thing only has 4 ring slots. Who only has 4 rings?!

LOL I’ve seen your ring box. ANY woman would be envious of that box of rings.

@StephanieLynn , Please be careful when looking at @stracci2000 ring collection box. If she posts her picture again, we all may needing to be attending a 12 program for ring addictions. Oh what the hell, we would be the ones with the huge smiles on our faces at the meeting knowing what was waiting for us in the jewelry box at home.

 

[YadaYadaYada]

Thanks @Calliecake, I don't know what it is about CT but it's impossible to find these boxes here, although I did get one it was from a private owner. Stracci has some skills, she could just whip up a new ring whenever she likes so that contributes to her collection as well as her pawn shop finds.

@stracci2000 it is too funny that your jewelry box only has four slots, that's not even enough to outfit a whole hand. Not acceptable in any era

 

[Bron357]

Bron to the task!
Found these 3 with the required ballerina AND 2 are very fancy with fake flowers as well.
Plenty more with music boxes but these are the best with ballerinas!