Boxes of delights: Jewellery cabinets are making a dazzling comeback

They have been around since 5000 BC, when chests were used by men and women in ancient Egypt as they believed jewelry had spiritual meaning.

Upper-class Egyptians had elaborate jewelry boxes inlaid with precious metals and silver-gilt, and pharaohs were buried with their jewelry boxes.

Lower class Egyptians used decorated boxes made of reeds to store their talismans.

Jewelry stands seem to have become the go-to item over the past few decades, but now cabinets are making a comeback in our homes – with a spike in sales in the run-up to Christmas.

It’s easy to understand why; There’s something very satisfying about hanging chains, placing rings in little velvet slots and, most importantly, knowing where each piece is when you need it.

“In previous decades, women had just a few pieces of jewelry and only wore it on special occasions, but now they seem to have enormous amounts of stuff,” says celebrity jeweler Theo Fennell, whose clients include Elton John and Liz Hurley.

“I would hate for something of mine not to be properly cared for and just put in a drawer next to the hairdryer.”

Fennell’s custom jewelry comes in a specially made box, so he prefers a display case, what the Germans call a wunderkammer or cabinet of curiosities.

“Then you can leave the box open, look at the piece and enjoy it when you’re not wearing it,” he says.

Silver Mushroom’s Nkuku Bequai wall-hung jewelery box with mirror in brass would be just the ticket (£99, silvermushroom.com).

Fennell suggests keeping an eye on auction house sales and scouring antique stores. ‘Drive around any country town, somewhere like Dorset, and you’re bound to find a nice glass case for a reasonable price.’

The online selection of cabinets is impressive. Mine came from Wayfair, is 3 feet tall and so sturdy that with a lamp on top, it doubles as a beautiful piece of furniture. It has outward opening doors with 14 hooks for necklaces.

For homes where space is limited, try the Lvsomt range. It has a cupboard (amazon.co.uk, £99) that can be wall-mounted or screwed to the back of a door, transparent drawers and LED lighting, but you have to assemble it yourself.

It’s worth laying out all your stuff on the table first so you can determine which items you need the most space for.

If you’re looking for a bit more bling, opt for Asia Dragon’s richly decorated Chinese gold leaf and floral cabinet, which costs £398 and comes with seven deep drawers (asiadragon.co.uk).

The over-the-top Lxn Armoire from Amazon would make a stunning statement piece in a room with its hand-painted flowers in a Scandi-rustic style.

It has seven drawers, two fold-out doors for necklaces and is available in pink, blue and natural gold (£780, amazon.co.uk).

Fennell also points out that whatever jewelry you have, it should be polished and cherished. He recommends soaking the items overnight in warm water mixed with Ajax and then gently cleaning them with a soft toothbrush.

“Your grandmother’s jewelry, if you inherited it, has been preserved in good condition because she didn’t wear it to the gym, didn’t drive, and didn’t wear it while gardening,” he says.

“Women come to me and say, ‘Grandma’s rings are broken!’ and that’s because they carried them with both hands and then clapped enthusiastically in the theater, knocking those gems together. Do not do it. You need to take care of those jewelry just like your grandmother did.”