How come everything that Italians do is so elegant? From the simplest pasta marinara to a Lamborghini, Italians have a knack for making everything they touch seem exquisite and special. It’s because they’re a nation of perfectionists who treat their life styles like an art form, where every detail counts. Case in point: the beautifully crafted and dead chic walnut-and-elm Sofia box from Ercolano. Storing precious objects in decorative cases is an Italian tradition, and this is the perfect vessel for your most prized possessions – whether it’s jewelry, watches, your lucky poker set or your collection of mid-century fountain pens.

The box is handmade by craftsmen in Sorrento, Italy, who painstakingly cut and fit each one together. We also like the whimsical conceit behind the design. Designer Giusy Maresca tells us that it was inspired by that ultimate symbol of femininity, women’s hair, and so the wood inlay on the white background is woven, the way a woman might braid her hair. We’re offering the Sofia in two sizes: a large, deep rectangle with a tray that lifts out to reveal extra storage beneath it and a smaller, shallower square with an interior grid that’s perfect for storing rings, earrings or cufflinks. It could also hold watches, pens or game pieces. We can’t think of a better Valentine’s present – both to give and receive!