Guides
Choosing a Khatam Box: Size, Detail & Care
Compare three Pilardi boxes by overall dimensions, opening, lining and decoration, with product-specific care guidance.
A useful Khatam box starts with the right dimensions and opening. Compare the three Pilardi boxes below, then open the product page for its current price, available variation and photographs. For the craft behind the patterns, read our introduction to khatam-kari.
Compare the boxes by use
- Small keepsakes and a bold geometric pattern: Passori Big Star, 11 × 8 × 3 cm, with a sliding opening.
- Jewellery and a painted lid: Sadaf Miniature, 14 × 10 × 4.5 cm, with a velvet-lined interior and three listed colourways.
- Small objects and fine geometric inlay: Passori Sliding Marquetry, 11 × 8 × 3 cm, with a sliding opening.
These are the overall dimensions in the product records, not measurements of the interior cavity. Check the size of the object you intend to store; contact Pilardi if you need an internal measurement before choosing.
Passori Big Star: a compact geometric box
The Passori Big Star Khatam box has larger star motifs across its inlaid surface. Its wood structure, brass and coloured inlay have a glossy resin finish. The 11 × 8 × 3 cm format and sliding opening suit small keepsakes, rings or pendants.
Sadaf Miniature: painted detail and a lined interior
The Sadaf Miniature jewellery box combines a hand-painted miniature lid, a marquetry exterior and a velvet-lined interior. Its overall dimensions are 14 × 10 × 4.5 cm, making it larger than the two Passori models compared here.
The product page distinguishes three colourways: Dark Blue Border & Gold, Light Blue Border & Turquoise, and Ruby & Turquoise. Select a variation to inspect its photographs and availability.
Passori Sliding Marquetry: fine pattern in a small format
The Passori Sliding Marquetry box measures 11 × 8 × 3 cm. Its product record lists wood, brass and natural veneers, a glossy resin finish and a sliding opening. Compare its finer geometric pattern with the larger stars of the Big Star model; the external dimensions are the same.
Care and display
For the Big Star and Sadaf models, the product care instructions specify a soft, dry cloth and avoiding water and household cleaning products. The Sadaf instructions also advise avoiding direct sunlight. Follow each product’s care guidance and ask Pilardi before applying any polish, oil or solvent to an inlaid or painted surface.
Place the box where its lid can open freely and where the decoration can be seen. A shelf, desk or bedside table can work without a large arrangement around it. For other surfaces and objects in the room, explore the current decorative mirrors and hand-printed tablecloths.
Choosing a box as a gift
Start with what it will hold, then choose the decoration: pronounced geometric stars, fine inlay or a painted miniature. Materials, lining, dimensions and variations differ by model; the description of one Khatam object should not be treated as a specification for all of them.
Prices and stock can change. Check the product page before ordering. If you followed a link to a piece that has already sold, browse the current box collection for alternatives; a similar appearance does not mean an identical replacement.
