As I get older things like this often make me sad. Each item in there was someone's pride and joy. It was likely a delight to them to purchase or receive as a gift and then to wear. They carefully decided each day or for each event which pieces to choose. Now they are just things. Yes, they will get a new life and make new memories, but they are also a life interrupted. Waking through my dad's workshop after he passed and seeing all the tools and wood, dreams for the future never to be realized seemed so final. I know we are just caretakers of items, curators, but there were a piece of someone's life.

Looks like you've found jewelry from the late Victorian period through the nineteen-thirties. The brooch with the pink in the center is a blister pearl, very popular jewelry in it's time. The horse is probably made of one of the early plastics called celluloid, which degrades easily, and it's in very good condition. The little hook is used for small buttons such as the ones on a woman's long blouse cuffs, it's the little sister of the boot hook. The hook's carved handle is onyx. This was very interesting to me as I am a jewelry collector. Whether they are about jewelry or house renovation or about the store, I think your videos are so interesting.

Right before my grandfather was diagnosed with cancer, and passed away very quickly. My grandmother and him, sold the house they’d built and had been living in since 1965. They were together 58 years. So all of us grandkids were helping them get rid of everything they had accumulated over the years. As they were moving into a small apartment. And were at the time, unaware of my grandfathers cancer. But one day, I was sitting with them at the table. Looking through stuff they had found in the back of their closet, and my grandfather handed me a really ornate, little tin treasure chest with a lock on it. I really liked the look of the box and it was heavy. I thought maybe it was full of marbles or maybe a bunch of pennies. He said “Here. Take this. If you can open it, you can have whatever is inside. Unless it’s paperwork”. Some time went on. Not much time. About a month or two. My grandfather got sick. And mere weeks after that, passed away. My grandparents raised me. And losing my grandfather was horrible. I was in a daze most of the time. I couldn’t quite catch myself. Anyways. One day I was sitting down. Finally looking at the items he had given me shortly before he passed. And I figured it was time to try and open it. Hours went by, no luck. I’m no lock-pick. My wife, however. Said “I’ll sit down with it and see what I can do”. I was in a different room when she yelled “Parker! I got it open!” I came running to find that it was absolutely FILLED with coins. Dating back to 1902. Mostly Canadian coins. About half of them silver. As well as some American coins. Probably 5-6000 dollars worth of coins. As some were slightly rare and in great condition. I almost sold a couple. But I couldn’t. I thought about melting down the silver to craft some jewelry. But I couldn’t do that either. So now, when I find an odd coin, or something commemorative, I put it back in that box. I don’t think I’ll ever sell any of its contents. I gave a few commemorative silver dollars to my siblings. I still sort through the coins from time to time. I want to write them all down in a ledger and keep that near it for future reference. And to keep better track of the coins. Take care! Always appreciate the old, dusty things. They tend to hold the best surprises!

I have never understood how anyone can sell their families processions. We had to flee our country and the only things I have from my paternal grandmother are her glasses and a watch. They are priceless to me. I would have given anything to have her jewelry even costume jewelry. This makes me so incredibly sad.

The penny is not damaged. Often times, holes were put in currency so it could be strung together or sewn into something for safe keeping. The hole actually shows it is authentic and makes it more valuable.

I received my grandmother's wedding earrings that she wore only on special occasions. They were her wedding gift from my grandfather. They are filigree gold flowers with diamonds throughout. Both of them were from suburbs of Naples. My grandfather would have sent to Naples for them in 1919. The jeweler thought they were most likely paste though the setting is gold. Told me not to expect much of them. She was there when I picked them up from the appraisal. She was flustered. The 'paste' turned out to be flawless European cut diamonds. Replacement value was $2500. They are now over 100 years old and still as beautiful as the first day I saw them.

My heart hurts. I cannot imagine getting rid of my family’s jewelry boxes. I understand people want to downsize. But this is part of their history.

When I was growing up I had next door neighbors named bob and Edna, they were my best friends. I was 9 when I met them, and they took me under their wings and treated me like I was their granddaughter, even always had my birthday written on their calendar. Even after I moved away every time I would visit my uncle who lived a couple doors down, I would still go and visit. They moved away in my late teens and I miss them very much. They were married in the 40’s, and Edna had a treasure trove of old pictures and so many boxes of old costume and real jewelry, some was even passed down through her family. One of my favorite things to do with her was go through all of her treasures and listen to every story she had behind every little piece. I am so thankful for the time I spent with them. I never had a real set of grandparents, only my dads mom, so it was nice for me to experience having both a grandma and grandpa. I’m not sure if they are still alive, and if not I hope they are watching over me.

The Janet brooch...brought tears to my eyes! I seriously believe that was made by my father! He was WWII from Missouri. Served in France/radio crystal grinding. Because he sat at a work bench and the tools, he made gold wire jewelry and the service men sent the pieces home to mothers and best girls. While there were many wire artists, his work has a certain personality, and that Janet piece mimics everything I remember of his wire writing. (his penmanship was horrid, but in wire it was beautiful). He loved to incorporate the twisted wire when ever he could and had this gizmo that would clamp down and it had a handle you would crank twisting the square stock wire. The base the wire your brooch is on is mother of pearl-had all sorts of shapes oval, round and hearts and flat pieces. His J I remember well as my mothers name is Joyce. His bracelets are very recognizable he created his own closures. Even if isn't his, it sure is fun to think it just may be! That ivory handle piece with the padding on it is a nail buffer. He had one of those too! He used some sort of ROUGE , buffing compound, and would buff his nails daily. It imparted a healthy pink color and looked just like the "french" manicure women have done today. He was an impeccable dresser and always "ON". It is a blessing to have so much of him brought to mind in your content. He passed in 82. I can't thank you enough for this moment. The treasure was really fun! ~ be well my friend.

A lifetime of love went into that box. It's a shame the family parted with it. It's true value is the heart of the woman who kept it all together. A lifetime of memories.

All of my Moms costume jewelry that she had that nobody wanted because it had no monetary value I kept. I knew she loved each and every piece. Some were gifts and others she had picked out for their colours and shapes. Finally after keeping them in her jewelry box I decided to do something with them. I found and old frame and arranged them in it to look like one giant medallion/broach. I covered it with glass and hung it in my family room where I get to see it everyday. It reminds me of her, and I smile everytime I see it ✌❤

We need a Part 2 follow up!!!!!!!!! To see if there was any items worth anything !!! Thank-you so much for sharing, beautiful find!!!!

The odd glass bead necklace is Milifiore, from Italy, popular in 1930s and 40s, sometimes called cake glass. They are collectors items.

I love that you could see part of this person's life through their jewelry and trinkets in the box. I also really loved the tiny chanel perfume bottle !

I enjoyed watching what another person cherished, wore and kept in their jewelry box. Thanks for sharing.

This reminds me of when my grandmother died. She collected a lot of jewelry, mostly costume. We kept all the valuable or sentimental pieces and gave away the rest. We mounted every piece on card stock and put them in little plastic jewelry baggies (like little Ziplocks). We organized them and put them in plastic tubs. We filled 9 of them!

There's something so intimate about going through someone's trinket box 💕 such little random items but they clearly meant the world to someone

Perhaps someone has already mentioned this but the little pencil used to be used by young ladies to note on their dance card the name of the young man they would be dancing with. If you had a full dance card you were very popular. Lovely items and so interesting that it was originally a box to store your letter writing supplies. Great video.

if someone hasn't already commented the small hook is not a shoe hook it is a glove hook. The long evening gloves sometimes had openings about half way up the glove to make the tight fitting gloves easier to put one. The opening closed with very little buttons that the only to get them through the very little button holes was with the glove hook.

We run a family shop, I collect old coins anyway, but i was cashing up one evening and one coin stood out from the rest, on looking closer I realised it was an old penny with a young queen Victoria on the back, I was thrilled.

Always look for hidden compartments in jewelry boxes. It was very common in the older eras.

That is a stationary box. The loop for “bracelets” is for ink. What a cool treasure box! I’d love going through this!

I used to enjoy going through my mother's jewelry box, and my grandmother's, which happened to be matching boxes because my father bought them for each of them. Both mom and grandma passed away a long time ago and I have both of the boxes now. I haven't gone through them in years because it's a bit sad even if very special. ☺️ It was memory lane seeing this.

I had never heard of Maui’s banyan tree , now I’m watching videos of the restoration . Thank you .

As a genealogist, I am perplexed as to why someone would sell heirlooms. They would have made wonderful Christmas gifts.

I've gone to auctions and found war medals - can't believe people don't keep these as treasured collections of a loved one. I even had the discharge papers of the soldier and offered them back and they said 'it's fine we don't have anyone who wants it, we didn't really know him". That was sad.

I started collecting antique dolls at 19 and got someones beautiful 1950s costume jewelry when I was 16 or 13? I love antiques. I branched out and have funeral stuff, dolls, posion bottles, 1950s, earoy 1960s Barbies and such :)

I can’t help but remember my late Mom who cherished all the costume jewelry.It’s very humbling watching the personal effects of someone else’s life being rediscovered.

The internal hoarder in me would never be able to sell this. I have so much stuff from my great grandma that I can't imagine getting rid of. I'd feel terrible giving things she thought were important enough to keep away :(

I love the little cat and the tiny perfume it brings me so much happiness and I feel it did for the owner of the box as well

I literally said “No, stop.” When he tried to remove the button. I would never be able to do this. These are prized possessions which was most likely really loved by someone. I’m glad you got to show up but I also feel like I’m violating privacy and I’m just looking at it-

That watch was particularly cool. Neat seeing how pristine the inner workings are, having never been exposed to the elements. So cool that it still works.

What fascinates me, besides the small Chanel bottle and the white gold watch which was STUNNING, is that the squirrel gene is in all of us. Who else haven’t come across their old aunt or grandmothers jewelry box and it looks exactly like this even if you live in a different continent.!? They collected every bead that had fallen off, every pin that had lost its pin, every sequin and pearl, regardless of its value, hoping that one day they would have the time or money to repair it.

I work in the Salvation Army warehouse. I come across many Victorian jewelry boxes. I’ve been working there for 6 years now. Till this day, it’s still my favorite thing to do is looking through those jewelry boxes :)

Got a couple of clues for you. The 1844 coin has a hole in it because people used to hang them above their front doors on the inside to bring money into the house(old tradition). The long leather covered white wire rimmed object I believe is a nail buffer, women wore their nails natural and shiney. The box itself actually looked like it was made out of rosewood which is a beautiful scarce wood now days. Great vid & thanks for sharing.

I am fascinating with the emerald penchant at 4:31. It is a beautiful piece.

I have my great-grandmother’s sewing basket, It’s exactly as she left it. I have it on a shelf in our living room. It’s a cherished treasure to me.

The silver brooch that you thought was a moonstone is actually an abalone blister pearl. Great video. I love antiques (especially jewelry). That also isn't a button, but a holder for a chatelaine. Women would hook it on their skirts or aprons and they would hold various things like that pencil, a little note book, needle and thread, etc. The little button hook you found is definitely agate and was used for women's cuffs. The French ivory piece you pulled out was a nail buffer. Sorry, I'm commenting as I watch.

This was so cool!! You know @19:40 the French ivory piece that was used to buff up your nails, a nail buffer. That watch though was beautiful!! Excellent purchase!! Love the box too.

Good Evening Alex and Melissa. The anticipation of seeing what is in that box is killing me ‼️

During the 1980s in the back of a Goodwill store there was a donation box that people put things outside of it to Donate and a big dumpster were people would toss a lot of good stuff in it. It wasn't illegal to dig through a dumpster as long as you didn't touch the donations out side the donation truck. Over the years I found three different jewelry boxes full of costume jewelry. I always thought to myself that another old lady died and they tossed her things in the dumpster. It brought back memories when my own mother died and other family members were racking her possessions into plastic trash bags. Heartbreaking.

I'm seeing a lot of comments about how sad it is that someone would sell their grandmothers precious jewelry. Not everyone has a close relationship with their grandmother so there isn't anything to be sentimental about. Treasure your relationship with your grands if you have them but don't judge others who never had one.

Absolutely in LOVE with that art deco watch.

Just came across your channel and immediately love it! I love the tiny chanel bottle! The house I've lived in for years is from 1939 and i still find small treasures outside in the yard. ❤️ Even someone's capped baby tooth from who knows when😳

I was freaking when I saw the Channnel No 5 bottle. What a find! (At last to me). Very fun video. I kept thinking about the woman who found these things so precious to keep in a box. Kind of sad but beautiful.

Love that celluloid horse pin. Looks more like late 1920's, early 30's.

My grandmother’s jewelry was placed in a storage unit along with the rest of her possessions after she had to move into a nursing home when her Alzheimer’s worsened to the point of needing 24/7, specialized care. My uncle held power of attorney. A few years later while my uncle was living in Colorado, he somehow failed to pay rent for my grandmother’s storage unit in Tennessee for multiple months (it was absolutely avoidable and unacceptable), which resulted in the entire storage unit being auctioned off. My mother and the rest of us had no clue until months after it happened. Everything my grandmother ever owned…gone…including jewelry and other items passed on to her by her own mother who lived in the 1800s. I wonder all the time where everything ended up. My grandmother was known for being a beautiful, intelligent, cultured and fashionable woman, especially in her youth (she spent many years traveling and teaching all over Europe). Everything she collected was scattered to the wind. I know she wanted to pass everything down to her daughter and two granddaughters. 😢 I never understood why my mom and uncle left nearly EVERYTHING in the storage unit (granted, we lived in a little townhouse). I think my mother has a vintage necklace from my grandmother and that’s it. However, I just need to remember I will always have my grandmother’s love even though she and all her earthly possessions are gone now. I can still feel her red lipstick on my cheek after a visit with her. ❤️ She always called me by my middle name “AnnaRose” because it was her name and her mother’s name combined.

My grandfather was a 32degree Mason and ww2 veteran so seeing these artifacts bring fond memories of the stories he told me and the little time I spent with him before he got alzheimer's diseasehe passed in 2019 at 81

Its horribly depressing that family no longer has these keepsakes 😪

The small button hook is likely for ladies gloves, it has a banded agate handle

I would LOVE to restore that box!! What a BEAUTIFUL piece of art and history!! I'm in love! 😍😍

These are so cool I love going through old stuff

The teeny perfume bottle is beyond adorable ❤️❤️❤️

What an absolute treasure to find. I'd love to have that box. 12:00 that tiny hook is actually for pulling and doing up your glove buttons. It's too small and delicate to pull boot laces or buttons.

Nice Haul! all of the seeming plastic items that you threw aside as not much, were probably made of celluloid, which in itself is a collectors item.

Thank -you for showing us these neat things.

My favorite was the mirror with the little powder puff! How precious!

I really think the jewelry box started life as something , perhaps a lady would keep her pens , an inkwell there where you thought maybe a bracelet. You lift and there’s a place for the envelopes . Maybe wax and wax stamps as well . A beautiful box in its self .

The Chanel bottle is gorgeous. The mirror with compact in the back is most likely collectable.

Thank you so much for sharing this video. I enjoyed a gentleman's view and learned a few new things . I'll be checking ladies watches more closely.❤

I love how people with wonderful knowledge are able to help identify your items. My favorite piece? That colorful little horse !

I can't imagine selling something that belonged tomy great-grandmother. What a lovely box filled with treasure. I think the hook is for gloves, btw.

The pins with the Sabras are from the Shriner's club. My father was a Mason and a member of the Shriners. Enjoying your show, will tune in again. Thanks, Sharon

Hi, I have Inherited Multiple hoards from the family members I took care of the last 20 years. My Mom and her siblings. I didn't know about you or YT then. I found and watch your channel to learn, so I can sell my almost 800lbs of Jewelry. I have 3 storage units as well. I wish I had you near me I need all the help I can get! lol I'm sure you'd like to pick through my stash of stuff. Thanks for your content!!

We ladies put special things in jewelry boxes....I loved watching each piece...Thank You

My Gramma worked her whole life & wasn’t wealthy. She was amazing. Anyway, after she died & we went through her jewelry which was all costume stuff. I took a “white gold” watch with “ sapphires & diamonds”. It had a broken wrist band. We never saw her wearing it & my Mom didn’t recognize it. To our surprise, it is actually all real! My in-laws surprised me by it getting fixed, cleaned & working. Its such a treasure. We have no idea how she got this. I know its worth quite a bit, but I’ll never sell it. It’s going to my daughter one day.

These days semiprecious stones are mounted on a reflective back so they don't need the light passing through. It reflects light from the front. I wonder if they used chrome diopside back then. Worth more than the green glass. Also always keep an eye out for Spinel.

Great finds! The shoe hook is a button hook for women's ankle boots. They didn't have laces back then.

Thank you for this video. I have been making my own jewelry since I was 10. Since there were no Michael’s or the internet back then I would go door to door and ask the neighborhood women if they had any old jewelry they didn’t want anymore. This video brought back all those memories 💚💚💚The wreath and long yellow one in the top center drawer are sweater clips. They usually came in pairs with a thin chain running between the two clips. They attached the sweater at the top so they did not have to button the sweater. Sometimes they wouldn’t even put their arms in the sleeves.

The floral brooch and earrings are indeed sterling silver. My mother had a very similar set. Late 1930s, early 1940s.

Treasure box! What fun! Figurative lucite pin, and the little fiddle, are always popular, don't discount them. Shoe button hooks were used to button shoes, not to tighten laces. The "clasp" is probably a dress or shoe "clip", used not to hold something together but to temporarily adorn a simple dress or pair of shoes. The French Ivory piece is a nail buffer used to shine nails before nail polish.

Very cool items! I loved the mirror hiding the puff!

The box may have been passed down from a grandmother to her daughter and then her daughter. The box itself from the late 1i00s, filled with items from the 1920s and 1940s tells a tale of a family. The last user of the box kept trinkets from her husband in there as well. It would have been quite a treasure if it had stayed in the family.

I don't know why, but it made me a little sad when you didn't put the horse brooch aside! 😂It's so full of personality, I think that was probably my favorite thing in the box. Would love to hear you talk more about why you decide to keep certain pieces over others for at the store. What happens to things you don't think are worth selling?

Oh WOW ! I haven't seen you for years. So glad to stumble on your site again.

Would love to find a priceless old jewelry box like you did. Love the 1920’s watch with the little flowers on it ⏱️ and the secret mirror 🪞

That mirror was really cool. I love the secret little powder puff super cute! Great video.

I'm 50, when I was about 13 my mother bought this exact jewelry box from an antique store. I ended up with it for years after, filled with my antique and vintage jewelry, much like these pieces, until the box finally disintegrated. I was so sad about it I ended up keeping all the metal accents off if it (still have them). I never thought I would see that jewelry box again. It was truly a trip down memory lane. Thank you.

Just imagine the story that box of things could tell.

A couple of tidbits. There is quite a bit of Masonic jewelry in the box. The blue cufflinks and tie clasp are emblems of the "Blue Lodge" where all men start. The "dagers" are representative of their time as a Shriner. Overall you have a group of Masons pronounced Maysons. The term Masonic is pronounced with the short a sound, as in Mawsonic, just leave out the w sound. The cap badge and other cannon items are from the Royal Regiment of Artillery. Double check the crowns on the top of the badge. The cannon design was initially used by Queen Victoria. King George V, Edward VIII and George VI also used the same style of cannon. Overall you have a nice selection of period pieces. Thanks for sharing them with us.

The little red plastic heart looks to be Bakelite. I am a collector of Bakelite. If it is just early plastic, it could still be collectible. I wish you would have taken it out so we could have a better look at it. This was fun! Hope you do more jewelry in the future.

The military items are from the Canadian Army of World War One. One item has the Canadian maple leaf on it and the other has the coat of arms of Canada- "A Mari Usque Ad Mare " ('from sea to sea'). The ribbon/badge that says Moose Jaw 1915 refers to the City of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. The owner of the box was definitely married to a Canadian veteran of World War One.

The round ring with the open top,on the right hand side of the box,is to keep a ladies pocket or fob watch in.

Fascinating vlog, and fascinating commentary! Thank you!

The horse brooch has some value for vintage enthusiasts/collectors it belonged in the set aside pile. Enjoyed seeing the pieces.

Sir I just wanted to reach out to sincerely and personally thank you. My grandmother passed away many years ago when I was still in my early teens. I was adapted so she was an older grandmother and was born in 1921. She had left me her jewelry box before she had returned home to the angels and several years ago someone stole all of her most precious items including the jewelry box itself. So as you were showing this jewelry box of yours it just helped me feel like a kid again touching all of my Grandma's treasures and remembering the love that she had for her life. I'm sure this was not your intention, but I just wanted to share with you what you helped give back to me. God bless you and the happiness New Year to you Sir!

This guy is so lucky for all of y’all. You guys know so much!! 😁

That's funny how that looks like my jewelry box, down to the jewelry box legs. Fun video. I hope the buttons are gold! Thanks for explaining the different Masonic pins.

So cool!! I will never forget the time I was going though my great, great grandmothers old jewelry boxes and came across one of her teeth! Scarred to this day, haha!!!😂😂

Looks like canetille twisted wire brooch and earrings. Most likely 800 or 835 silver, and victorian. This was the most fun vintage jewelry video I've seen in a long time!

Amazing thing to get hold of. I love antiques. They hold so many amazing qualities. Back when quality really ment something. Just amazing. Th Silver pieces that match are for a belt. They could be 1940's to the 60's. The brass military buttons look 1850's to 1880's which really is an amazing find. The wreath I wanna say was for scarfs or a high collar blouse. The piece 19:42 is a nail file. Very OLD nail file. It is crazy how somethings from so long ago can be looked at today and skill is seen or shows how time evolved certain things in our lives... Such as nail files. I hope you are able to get that box cleaned up and looking as it did long ago. It's really an amazing thing to get your hands on.

It's like a small window into the lives of people who are sadly gone now. There are definitely some valuable pieces there. I believe some of the clips are shoe clips and the fur clips. The decorative silver disks on the beads are called bead caps. If any of the plastic jewelry is Bakelite, even that is collectible and worth more than he might expect. I would be surprised if the pearls are real, but it's worth investigating!

The 'cape clasp' is actually a shoe clip. My grandmother had several like that and gifted them to me!

Gingerly going through a box like this is a gentle opportunity to view the little special items one found special enough to save for the future. Like old button boxes passed on to the next generation, these jewelry boxes are like “elastic time capsules” of decades of lives. So very , very interesting and poignant. Thanks Alex

The small hook is a button hook for doing up the small buttons on ladies boots. My grand aunt used to use one for the buttons on her clothes as she had arthritis in her hands.

The items you looked at early on were shoe buckles to decorate shoes. Very cool treasure box

I found a tin box at my Parents house that had belonged to my Grandmother. It had the typical 'old Lady collection' (old wooden pencils, a decorative spoon or two, S&H green stamps, coupons, hair pins, Bobby pins, a few safety pins, a metal nut cracker tool or two, a small plastic 'magnifying glass' and a small stack of folded cards and papers. When I took the rubber band off the paper stack the rubber band literally desenigrated and fell into about 10 pieces, then I carefully opened the pieces of paper to reveal that it belonged to my Grandfather (which died when my Mom was a senior in high school). And by reading the cards and paperwork, I found out it was a radio license for my Grandfather. I had never known that he was a radio operator, and it seems it was during WWII (I think), as part of the civil defense corp. When I got my Ham Radio license back about 25 years ago, I had thought I was the only one who was interested in such things....but come to find out, so was he. Something I did always hear about him was he worked as a 'Night Watchman' at the local cotton compress for many years. And guess what I do? Night Shift Security (since 1985). It's amazing how opening a box with no preconceived ideas on what you'll find, can turn into a history lesson and spark another trip down the genealogical 'rabbit hole'.

That ribbon is awesome. I love the badge design

The cameo broach/pendant is definitely from the 20’s/early 30’s and is almost definitely early plastic/resin (chance it could be jet or shell) but it looks closest to resin - though wouldn’t be surprised if early plastic due to the rest of the box being pretty much just costume. It’s in good condition, just needs some glue (which is better than most for it’s age). Pins in good condition too. Overall a great unique piece of costumes jewellery in relatively good condition all things considered.

The plastic horse pin was a real fine surprised you didn't separate it out with the other treasures. Also you didn't pull the backing down from the top of the box sometimes little treasures are hidden there as well as in the little satin pouches. Nice box and great find on that 18 carat white gold watch. Thanks for posting very enjoyable.