Friendship Box Studio

Every Friendship Box begins with an object
and becomes a story.

I was born in Rome to a family of art collectors, brocanteurs and film lovers, and grew up surrounded by beautiful objects and good stories.Friendship Box grew from a love of antiques, forgotten treasures and the belief that beautiful things deserve a second life. Through restoration and decoupage, I transform vintage and pre-loved objects into one-of-a-kind pieces inspired by memory, craftsmanship and reinvention.Today I work from my Victorian coach house in Surrey, surrounded by my family, dogs and horses. The antiques, books and collected treasures around me continue to inspire the stories behind every Friendship Box.I hope you enjoy exploring the portfolio. If a particular piece or story resonates with you, you'll find my contact details at the end of the site.

What is 'Friendship Box'?

Long before it became the name of my business, Friendship Box was a box of treasures from my mother's childhood.When my sister and I were growing up in Paris, it would appear whenever we were confined to bed with a bout of flu. Inside were dolls, books, and all manner of antique and vintage toys and curious objects that seemed magical to us. We spent hours inventing stories for them and imagining lives of their own.Remarkably, a few of those treasures are still with me today, including Russian dolls, an old edition of Pinocchio and a book of Grimm's fairy tales.

Victorian Inspirations

Among the treasures I have collected over the years is an original Victorian album from the 1890s, filled with embossed scraps and die-cuts. It remains one of the strongest influences on my work. My fascination with paper runs deep in my family: my mother and aunt were talented découpers, while a great-aunt specialised in scherenschnitte, the art of intricate paper cutting. Through them I inherited a love of antique papers, ephemera and the stories a single image can tell.When Friendship Box began, I found myself returning to these Victorian collections. Many early pieces incorporated original die-cuts alongside hand-painting and restoration, inspired by their remarkable craftsmanship and narrative power. The hunting dogs on the cufflink box shown here began life as an antique die-cut, while Think of Me draws on Victorian imagery associated with letters, keepsakes and remembrance. Looking back, I can see how these albums helped shape the visual language of Friendship Box and my enduring fascination with storytelling through objects.

Headmore

Designed as a gift for Sarah, this Friendship Box was inspired by our years at Headmore Stud in Hampshire, where our horses were trained and cared for by Sarah and her daughter Alice. Rather than depicting a single scene, the box became a miniature world celebrating the character of the stud itself, with horses, chickens, gardens and stable yards combining to create an imagined version of a place that often felt more like a storybook than a working yard.Created during a transitional period in my work, the piece combines Victorian-inspired die-cuts with photographs and digitally assembled imagery. Sarah appears among her horses, while William quietly watches over daily life on the farm. Looking back, I can see the beginnings of the immersive, personalised storytelling that would later become central to Friendship Box.

Sam's Time Portal

One of the earliest Friendship Boxes, this piece was created as a Christmas gift for Sam, who has been part of our family for many years. It began life as a beautifully crafted Portuguese oak Porto wine box, transformed into a miniature medieval world hidden within its walls.Inside, two travelling soldiers explore a bustling town, while their horses wait beyond the gates. An oval-framed collage forms a portal into this imagined scene, brought to life with baroque floral papers and hand-crafted wooden animals. Genuine eighteenth-century silk ribbons serve as lid keepers, while a vintage carved oak rose adorns the lid. Looking back, I can see many of the ideas that would later define Friendship Box: storytelling through objects, carefully chosen materials and the creation of small worlds within ordinary things.

Suzy au Japon!

This deeply personal piece was created as a Christmas gift for my friend, journalist and broadcaster Suzy Dryden. Inspired by her childhood memories of Japan, her research for her first novel and her creative spirit, it was intended as a gift of friendship, encouragement and escape.The figure reading inside was inspired by Suzy herself, while the imagery extends across the box to create an immersive world of lanterns, flowers, calligraphy and imagined places. Filled with handmade gifts and carefully chosen treasures, it marked one of the first times the Friendship Box concept became fully realised: a personal world created for someone else and filled with stories, memories and meaning.

The Borzoi Manor

Designed as a gift for Carol, a Scottish Havening practitioner whose support helped my sister and me through a difficult period, this was one of the early Friendship Boxes. A genuine Russian miniature painting dating from the early twentieth century is set into the lid, acting as a portal into the world contained within.Inside, Carol walks her beloved Borzoi through an imagined woodland landscape, while references to the breed's Russian heritage appear throughout the box. Filled with handmade gifts and small treasures, it was created as a keepsake, a thank-you and a celebration of Carol's love of dogs, horses and beautiful craftsmanship.

The Arazzo

This bespoke commission was inspired by a treasured Renaissance arrazzo that had adorned the client's home for decades. Wanting to preserve both the memory of the textile and the object itself, she commissioned a keepsake box that would capture its beauty in a new form.The box was carefully restored before being transformed using imagery inspired by the tapestry. Rich silk velvet, antique gold detailing and a vintage ribbon complete the design, while a matching document holder creates a cohesive and deeply personal gift set. What began as a forgotten object became a lasting heirloom inspired by Renaissance decorative arts.

Ladybirds

Every bespoke commission begins with a conversation. For this project, my client shared a lifelong affection for ladybirds and asked me to create a piece that would celebrate their charm while preserving the character of a vintage object.I sourced and restored a battered wooden document box, refinishing it in a soft botanical green and adding hand-selected ladybirds to the lid. Inside, those same ladybirds appear transformed into delicate fairy-like figures, creating a hidden world revealed only when the box is opened. What began as a worn and forgotten object became a whimsical keepsake combining restoration, storytelling and bespoke design.

Koi Ponds

Koi have appeared in many Friendship Box creations over the years. In Japanese tradition they symbolise perseverance, transformation and good fortune, while their flowing movement and rich colours make them a constant source of inspiration.These pieces — a 1970s jewellery box and a vintage Japanese rice bowl — began life as forgotten objects before being transformed into imagined worlds inspired by the tranquillity and beauty of a koi pond. Together, they reflect the blend of symbolism, craftsmanship and storytelling that continues to shape my work.

The Big Apple

Created from a worn Victorian box for a client with deep personal connections to New York City, this commission transformed an ordinary antique into a highly personal keepsake. Custom skyline silhouettes and architectural details were added to the exterior, while imagery inspired by the city was incorporated throughout the interior.A second surprise was hidden inside: a small apple-shaped keepsake box representing The Big Apple. Within it sat a photograph taken by the client herself from her kitchen window in Midtown Manhattan, preserving a view that held special meaning. The result was a celebration of memory, place and personal identity.

Kuala Lumpur Memories

Created as a gift for someone with deep personal ties to Kuala Lumpur, this keepsake box celebrates a city that held special meaning for its recipient. Custom cityscapes were digitally designed, printed onto rice paper and incorporated using traditional decoupage techniques, with the recipient himself discreetly included within one of the scenes.The gilded interior, Malaysian-inspired decorative details and tiger motif combine to create a personal tribute to place, memory and identity, transforming an ordinary box into a keepsake rich in meaning.

The Dragon and the Owl

Vintage Kashmiri papier-mâché eggs have become one of my favourite canvases for creative reinvention. Often found worn, faded or damaged, these handcrafted objects retain a beauty and craftsmanship that make them ideal for transformation through decoupage.The dragon and owl shown here are among my personal favourites. Both began life as vintage Kashmiri eggs before being reimagined through layers of carefully selected papers, paint and varnish. One became home to a young dragon emerging from a world of imagination, while the other draws upon the enduring symbolism and mystery of the owl.

Treasures of the Sea

The sea has inspired many Friendship Box creations over the years. Growing up surrounded by stories of exploration, diving and open-water adventure, I developed a lifelong fascination with the mysteries hidden beneath its surface.These pieces transform vintage wooden boxes into miniature underwater worlds inspired by marine life, maritime history and the spirit of discovery. Created for family, friends and private commissions, they celebrate the beauty of the ocean and the stories it continues to inspire.

Winter Flight

This vintage cutlery box was transformed into a tribute to the quiet beauty and mystery of the snowy owl. A specially sourced photograph of a snowy owl in flight inspired the design, while the box itself was carefully restored after decades of use.The exterior features an owl soaring above a winter landscape, framed with gilded details inspired by antique keepsake boxes. Inside, a second nocturnal scene is accompanied by a favourite quotation from E.B. White: "Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder." Specially commissioned embossed decals add texture and depth, reinforcing the sense of wonder at the heart of the piece.

Dixie & Dan

Created as a charity commission, this memory box celebrates the lives of two beloved Miniature Schnauzers and the memories they shared with their owner. Beginning with a worn octagonal wooden box, the piece was restored and transformed using photographs of the dogs, imagery inspired by their favourite walking places and references to the Scottish landscape.A bespoke artisan-made handle was commissioned especially for the project, while the interior features a woodland-inspired collage and a favourite Elvis Presley quotation. More than a keepsake, the box became a tribute to companionship, loyalty and the enduring bond between people and the animals they love.

Western Trails

Created from an original 1940s cigar box, this piece celebrates both classic Western cinema and cherished family memories. The exterior features a herd of Mustangs crossing an open landscape, while the interior reveals mounted riders inspired by the drama and adventure of traditional Western films.My lifelong love of cinema was nurtured through countless hours spent watching classic Westerns with my wonderful nan. By transforming a vintage cigar box into a keepsake inspired by that world, I wanted to honour both cinematic history and the memories we shared. More than a decorative object, it is a tribute to the stories and people that stay with us.

A River in Scotland

A family celebration on Scotland's River Spey gave Charlotte the opportunity to discover the quiet pleasures of fly-fishing through her father's eyes. Surrounded by water, woodland and open skies, she captured the experience in photographs and sketches, recording both the landscape and the atmosphere of a memorable week together.Created using Charlotte's own artwork and photographs, this keepsake box transforms those memories into a three-dimensional object, celebrating family, place and a shared appreciation for the river.

The Snow Queen

Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen has fascinated me since childhood, particularly the courage and determination of Gerda, whose journey to rescue the boy she loves remains at the heart of the story. Inspired by this beloved fairy tale, a discarded vintage cardboard soap box was transformed into a miniature winter world through layers of paint, texture and decorative detail.Snow scenes, frosted finishes and illustrations from a favourite vintage edition of the story were combined to evoke the icy beauty of the Snow Queen's realm, while a crystal handle was chosen to echo the appearance of ice and snow. Created for my private collection and not for sale, this piece reflects a lifelong affection for Andersen's timeless tale.

Le Jardin de la Reine

Inspired by my long-standing fascination with Marie-Antoinette and Le Petit Trianon, the private retreat Louis XVI gave his wife at Versailles, this piece was my attempt to recreate the small world she built away from the formality of court life. A vintage cardboard hat box discovered in a charity shop became the foundation for this imagined eighteenth-century world.The design combines imagery inspired by Le Petit Trianon with original Victorian die-cuts, hand-made portrait frames and specially commissioned embossed details. Conceived as a miniature art gallery, the interior brings together portraits, gardens and architectural elements inspired by Marie-Antoinette's private life. The piece reflects many of the themes that continue to shape my work: storytelling, history, decorative arts and the transformation of overlooked objects.

Regency Flower Press

Inspired by antique botanical albums and Regency-era illustration, this handcrafted flower press celebrates the tradition of collecting and preserving nature's fleeting beauty. Decorated with vintage imagery, botanical motifs and softly aged finishes, it evokes the charm of nineteenth-century herbariums and garden journals.Designed as both a practical tool and a keepsake object, the press transforms the simple act of preserving flowers into a small ritual of remembrance, celebrating the enduring desire to capture a moment of beauty before it fades.

Pride & Prejudice

My love of Regency storytelling began in New York, where I discovered British costume dramas on PBS and became captivated by their characters, costumes and richly imagined worlds. That fascination followed me to Britain in 2000 and eventually led to more than a decade working at the BBC, immersed in the world of British storytelling that had first inspired me as a young viewer.Inspired by Pride & Prejudice, this keepsake box began life as a battered vintage cigar box before being transformed through layers of decoupage, hand-cut fashion plates and decorative embellishments. The cover depicts a Regency coaching scene, while the interior opens onto a miniature garden inspired by Jane Austen's world, where conversation, courtship and possibility seem ready to unfold.

Ginkgo

Created from a damaged stained-glass panel, this piece was inspired by the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi — the appreciation of beauty in age, imperfection and transformation. Rather than replacing the cracked glass, the damaged areas were carefully repaired and incorporated into the design, with ginkgo leaves arranged to interact with and partially conceal the restored fractures.The panel is shown here in its final home in Rome, displayed on a bespoke wooden stand commissioned to support its weight and proportions. A celebration of restoration, renewal and the quiet beauty of imperfection, the piece allows the history of the object to remain visible while becoming part of a new story.

Fairy Door

This one-of-a-kind shadow box was inspired by my Neapolitan heritage and the miniature worlds created by my great-grandfather. Each Christmas he built elaborate presepi from cork, handmade foliage and carefully crafted figurines, transforming ordinary materials into entire worlds filled with hidden details and stories waiting to be discovered.The Fairy Door grew from those memories. A custom shadow box frame was filled with miniature foliage, woodland creatures and carefully sourced objects, centred around a pair of opening doors with miniature handles and a working latch. Part assemblage, part miniature world and part tribute to a family tradition, it remains one of the most personal pieces I have created.

With ThanksFriendship Box may be a solitary creative practice, but many projects owe something to the kindness, encouragement and practical help of others.Special thanks go to Sam, who has been part of our family's story for many years. Over countless projects he has helped dismantle, sand, repair and reassemble vintage boxes, often tackling the more stubborn tasks that require patience, strength and practical know-how.Though his contribution may not always be visible in the finished work, it forms part of the story behind many Friendship Boxes.