I've been making one-of-a-kind art houses and Advent calendars for nearly a decade now, and 2026 is my most extensive collection to date. Through the years, my Advents have been purchased as indulgences of total whimsy for fellow collectors, armchair travellers and kindred spirits who delight in the miniature scale, imagination, daily surprise and beauty of these unique curations.

This Antique Asian Cabinet is the most luxurious of these Advent Calendars to date. 

The cabinet itself is a former jewellery box, hand-painted and marked with a maker's mark on the base. Unfortunately, I am unable to decipher the Asian characters but do believe this to be a very special piece with significant age. A simple look at the quality and intricacy of the hardware, hinges, lock and paint work will tell you all you need to know. Please note that it does have wear around the base and some separation of the join at the top right corner, as shown in one photograph. There is also no key, although it might be possible to find a replacement.

The miniatures in this Advent calendar are larger than a standard doll's house scale - more  like 1:6 scale. These 25 individual gifts have been meticulously curated to complement this special cabinet and make worthy additions to it. 

Among the surprise objects are a glorious collection of tiny scent/snuff bottles, all authentic vintage/antique pieces of various materials - some made of bone, metal, hand-painted shell and more. There are also tiny marbles fashioned from various semi-precious stones, a couple of ceramic pieces, a couple of copper pieces, glass vessels, brass objects, and plenty more whimsical treasures.

Each gift will come giftwrapped and numbered, designed to open each day throughout December (or however you choose to enjoy it). The miniaturised experience will be akin to a grand tour of the finest antique stores around the globe. 

At the end of your unboxing experience you will have your own richly detailed miniature cabinet of curiosities with four well-packed drawers, overflowing to a charming display on top of the cabinet and to each side, or however you choose to display. 

A truly memorable gift for a like-minded collector, who will enjoy savouring the joy and surprise of opening a new find each day for nearly a whole month.

All the contents you'll receive are photographed here, but I have deliberately resisted detailing them here to enhance the surprise, as I find most often these Advents are purchased for personal enjoyment.

However, if you require more detailed information on the contents than what is featured in the photos, please feel free to get in touch. Rest assured, the value of each piece is far beyond anything you would find in a more mass-produced or generic 'luxury' Advent calendar. These mostly are one-of-a-kind true vintage and antique pieces crafted to a standard rarely encountered in modern manufacture. Only a couple of pieces are contemporary inclusions.

Note: all my Advent Calendars are designed for adult collectors and are not suitable as gifts for young children as they contain small parts, fragile materials, and true vintage and antique finds.

Some of the pieces do carry small imperfections, reflective of their vintage or antique condition.