Hermes Sterling Silver Engine Turned Box with Slide Tab - France, c.1960

A refined example of Hermes mid-century silversmithing, this sterling silver box pairs a finely engine-turned lid with an ingenious sliding mechanism — slide the tab and the cedar interior box glides either to the left or right, ready to hold everyday objects, jewelry, or small personal treasures. Crafted in France around 1960, the piece reflects a moment when Hermes applied the same precision found in its leather goods to small silver objects for the home and desk.

The engine-turned (guilloche) surface catches the light beautifully, its fine crosshatch pattern a hallmark of quality French silverwork from this era. The sliding tab mechanism is both clever and satisfying to use, adding an interactive quality that sets it apart from the more static boxes typically found on the market. Beneath the silver, the wood-lined interior offers a warm contrast, practical for daily use.

Sterling silver pieces of this caliber from Hermes are genuinely scarce, particularly with a mechanism this well preserved after more than six decades. It is equally at home as a working object on a desk — for stamps, paper clips, or pens — or displayed on its own as a study in mid-century French design.

For collectors of Hermes, French silver, or mid-century desk accessories, this box offers a wonderful consideration: substantial enough to anchor a collection, yet compact enough to live comfortably in nearly any room.