Demon in
a Box:
The Auction
Lots 1-66
Lot 52:
A Polished Nickel Square Box
Lot 24:
A Bronze-Mounted and Inlaid Malachite Valuables Box
Piermont & Thorne’s Demon in a Box features 66 cursed containers, each one unique, each one rumored to hold an evil entity.
Drawn from private collections, estates, religious institutions, and the Piermont & Thorne archives, the sale brings together 66 cursed containers under one auction. Individual consignors are identified where permission has been granted; at the request of several consignors, present ownership has been withheld. Demonologists and occultists may find some of the symbols familiar; refer to our Discover section for more information on particular Boxes. Provenance is provided but, as with any history, is often incomplete.
1. A CARVED PINE, LEATHER-BOUND, AND WROUGHT IRON-MOUNTED DOME-TOP TRUNK, EARLY 18TH CENTURY
2. A CARVED MARBLE LIDDED SQUARE BOX, 14TH CENTURY
3. A TITANIUM AND SILVER RECTANGULAR BOX, LATE 20TH CENTURY
4. A CARVED IVORY BRONZE-MOUNTED HINGED DOME-TOP TRUNK, 17TH CENTURY
5. A CARVED LIMESTONE LIDDED RECTANGULAR BOX, 5TH CENTURY
6. A HUMAN HEART BOUND IN LEATHER CORD, 11TH CENTURY
7. A SMALL IRON COFFER, 17TH CENTURY
8. A CARVED IVORY SQUARE BOX, 16TH/17TH CENTURY [SOLD]
9. A GREEN GLASS CAST BRONZE-MOUNTED STRAIGHT-SIDED BOTTLE, MID-19TH CENTURY
10. AN ARCHAIC STONE LIDDED RECTANGULAR BOX, 12TH CENTURY OR EARLIER
11. AN IVORY LIDDED SQUARE BOX, EARLY 19TH CENTURY
12. A GEOMETRIC SILVER LIDDED BOX, MID-20TH CENTURY
13. A YELLOW PINE RECTANGULAR TRUNK, LATE 19TH CENTURY
14. AN ITALIAN WALNUT AND PAINTED COPPER RELIQUARY, FIRST HALF OF 17TH CENTURY
15. A HAND-HAMMERED LEAD SQUARE BOX, LATE 19TH CENTURY
16. A CORRUGATED CARDBOARD SQUARE BOX, MID-20TH CENTURY
17. A MINIATURE GOLD BOTTLE, 16TH CENTURY
18. A BLACK LACQUER KO-DOGU BOX, LATE EDO-MEIJI
19. A BLOWN GLASS TEST TUBE, LIKELY ANCIENT BUT OF UNKNOWN AGE
20. A BONE AND SPIDER SILK BOX, INDETERMINATE AGE
21. A BRASS RECTANGULAR LOCKBOX, LATE 19TH CENTURY
22. A TERRACOTTA RELIQUARY BOX, 14TH CENTURY
23. AN IRON AND WOOD BOX, EARLY 20TH CENTURY
24. A BRONZE-MOUNTED AND INLAID MALACHITE VALUABLES BOX, LATE 19TH CENTURY
25. A UTILITARIAN GREEN-PAINTED IRON RECTANGULAR BOX, EARLY 20TH CENTURY
26. AN INDUSTRIAL METAL RECTANGULAR TRUNK, LATE 19TH CENTURY
27. A FIBERGLASS COFFER, MID-20TH CENTURY
28. A CARVED ONYX PILL-FORM BOX, 16TH CENTURY
29. AN EBONIZED LAMINATE AND FABRIC-COVERED PINE RECTANGULAR SPEAKER CABINET, CIRCA 1975
30. A BLACK LACQUER LIDDED RECTANGULAR BOX, LATE 19TH CENTURY
31. A STEEL SQUARE STORAGE BOX, MID-20TH CENTURY
32. A CAST IRON AND TARRED HARDWOOD LOCKBOX, 15TH CENTURY
33. A CARVED PETRIFIED WOOD RECTANGULAR BOX, 16TH CENTURY
34. A CARVED TARRED OAK SQUARE LOCKBOX, 15TH CENTURY
35. A TRANSLUCENT SPINACH JADE PILL-FORM BOX, 18TH CENTURY
36. A SPHERICAL STEEL BOX, LATE 19TH CENTURY
37. A STEEL LOCKBOX, LATE 17TH CENTURY
38. A CAST IRON RECTANGULAR FIREBOX, LATE 18TH CENTURY
39. A STEEL RECTANGULAR LIDDED BOX, LATE 18TH/EARLY 19TH CENTURY
40. A GREEN-GLAZED STONEWARE CYLINDRICAL BOX, 14TH CENTURY
41. A STEEL SQUARE BOX, SECOND QUARTER 20TH CENTURY
42. A BRONZE-MOUNTED LIGHT GREEN GLASS BOTTLE, LATE 19TH CENTURY
43. A FINELY CAST BRONZE FOOTED SQUARE BOX, LATE 17TH CENTURY
44. A COPPER SPHERICAL BOX, LATE 19TH CENTURY
45. A CARVED HARDSTONE RECTANGULAR BOX, 18TH CENTURY
46. A STEEL SQUARE LOCKBOX, LATE 19TH/EARLY 20TH CENTURY
47. A BRONZE SQUARE BOX, 18TH CENTURY
48. AN ARCHAIC SANDSTONE CYLINDRICAL BOX, 3RD TO 5TH CENTURY [SOLD]
49. A STERLING SILVER RECTANGULAR CIGARETTE BOX, 2ND QUARTER 20TH CENTURY
50. A BRONZE SQUARE BOX, EARLY 18TH CENTURY
51. A GOTHIC IRON RELIQUARY, 15TH CENTURY
52. A POLISHED NICKEL SQUARE BOX, MID-20TH CENTURY
53. SILVER-MOUNTED TORTUGA SHELL RECTANGULAR TRINKET BOX, 18TH CENTURY
54. A COPPER AND SILVER LOCKBOX, MID- TO LATE 19TH CENTURY
55. A SILVERED BRONZE DOMED RECTANGULAR BOX, EARLY 15TH CENTURY
56. A MINIATURE IRON STEAMER TRUNK-FORM LOCKBOX, EARLY 20TH CENTURY
57. AN AMBER TRINKET BOX, EARLY 20TH CENTURY
58. A SILVER SQUARE BOX, LATE 20TH CENTURY
59. A SMALL ENGRAVED COPPER EGG-FORM BOX, EARLY 18TH CENTURY