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Artisan Box by Luxurion World Subscription Box Review – September 2015

Ragan Buckley
ByRagan BuckleyOct 20, 2015 | 22 comments

Artisan Box by Luxurion World Subscription Box Review September 2015 - box

Artisan Box
5 overall rating
1 Ratings | 0 Reviews

Artisan Box by Luxurion World is a monthly subscription box bringing you handcrafted lifestyle items from India. Each month, the products will come from a different Indian state. September’s products are from Uttar Pradesh.

This box was sent to us for review purposes. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)

The Subscription Box: Artisan Box by Luxurion World

The Cost: $49 a month (save with longer subscriptions)

Artisan Box by Luxurion World Subscription Box Review September 2015 - sidebox

This box was stuffed pretty full when I got it! But everything was packaged well inside and it all survived the trip intact.

Artisan Box by Luxurion World Subscription Box Review September 2015 - inside

I think they do a great job with the packaging. It’s like opening a gift. FYI, this is the September box. With this subscription, shipping is late in the month and you will get it the next month.

The Products: 3-5 lifestyle items handcrafted by artisans in India. The items come from local craftsmen and small businesses and produced in a sustainable, environmentally-friendly manner. A large percentage of the proceeds of Artisan Box are distributed to the artisans who make the products. Cost savings for the consumer are achieved through volume purchases and direct payment to the artisans without any middle agencies. This structure allows for improvement of the artisans’ socioeconomic conditions.

Note: Item prices are taken from the information page for this box. (This month, there was not a printed information card, but the link in this paragraph will take you to their store page for this box, where you can read about the items.) Although Luxurion World has a shop, this month’s items did not appear to be in it just yet. However, you can still buy this box or the August box if you are interested. (Here is my review of the August box.)

Ships to: Worldwide; $15 cost to the US

Check out the Artisan Subscription Box Directory for similar boxes!

Artisan Box by Luxurion World Subscription Box Review September 2015 - bowl

Brass Bowl with Handcrafted Minakari Work – Value $15

This is so pretty. The detail inside is beautiful and the side is smooth and shiny. (The color on the inside is consistent; the whitish stuff in the middle is reflection from my light source.)

Minakari is a technique of ornamenting the surface of metals and was spread by the Moghuls throughout Persia, India, and other countries nearby. This particular style, on brass, originated in the city of Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh.

Artisan Box by Luxurion World Subscription Box Review September 2015 - bowlside

Here’s a view of the side.

Artisan Box by Luxurion World Subscription Box Review September 2015 - oil

Natural Lavender Aroma Oil – Value $15

First, my apologies for the blurriness of the photo. This vial was difficult to photograph. This is an attar, which is a fragrance oil extracted by a complicated distillation process, and comes from Kannauj, known as the “Perfume City of India.”

This has a little different scent than lavender essential oils made in the West. I am looking forward to using it in my cool mist diffuser!

Artisan Box by Luxurion World Subscription Box Review September 2015 - oilbag

Here’s the bag the oil vial came in. Once again, I have to say I really like the packaging for this subscription!

Artisan Box by Luxurion World Subscription Box Review September 2015 - pendant

“Shazar” Stone Pendant – Value $35

I think this is neat. I like the way it looks, but it’s also interesting to read about how this stone is formed. (It’s natural, but can take thousands of years to complete the process!) This is oversimplifying it a bit, but a fungus becomes trapped in the stone and the presence of iron and manganese makes the fungus secrete acid, which also alters the appearance of the stone and also acts as a glue.

It takes someone with a lot of knowledge and experience to cut the stone, though, so that the patterns show. Not all occurrences of Shazar stone have patterns like this!

Artisan Box by Luxurion World Subscription Box Review September 2015 - pillow

Silk Brocade Cushion Cover – Value $7

Brocade is shuttle-woven on a draw loom. (Rather than me trying to describe what a draw loom is, here is a link with more information. These looms were developed specifically for silk weaving.) This is about 12.5 by 12.5 inches so it is easy to find a cushion to fill it. (I have one on order.) It will actually go with the color scheme in my living room fairly well.

Artisan Box by Luxurion World Subscription Box Review September 2015 - redbox

Artisan Box by Luxurion World Subscription Box Review September 2015 - redinside

Zardozi Embroidered Jewelry Box – Value $8

Zardozi is another craft originating in Persia that has found a home in Uttar Pradesh. In this craft, metallic threads are used to sew embellishment onto various fabrics. Red is my favorite color and I love the design, so of course I am happy with this. Based on photos I’ve seen elsewhere, colors may vary.

Verdict: I calculated a value of $80 for the September Artisan Box from Luxurion World. They promise a monthly value of at least $70 and they exceeded that this month. I actually think some of the items are probably worth more than the cost listed on the Luxurion World site – or at least, they would sell for more, individually, in the US. So the actual value may be even higher! Once again, I’m happy with the contents. I love the craftsmanship and that this subscription supports the artisans, plus the items are beautiful and I find the stories of their creation quite interesting.

What do you think of the September 2015 Artisan Box from Luxurion World?

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3-5 lifestyle items handcrafted by artisans in India. The items come from local craftsmen and small businesses and produced in a sustainable, environmentally-friendly manner. A large percentage of the proceeds of Artisan Box are distributed to the artisans who make the products. Cost savings for the... read more.
Ragan Buckley
Ragan Buckley
Ragan stumbled across My Subscription Addiction in late 2013 and immediately subscribed to way too many beauty boxes. She's now focused on boxes for her cats and dog, vegan/vegetarian food boxes, and craft subscriptions (and she didn't give up beauty boxes entirely).

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22 comments

Annie

That bowl is beautiful! Can you give us the measurements? It’s hard to tell size with no references.

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chandrakanta

It’s 5 inch diameter n 2.5 inch height. Made of brass n minakari on top, weight 250 gms

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Ragan

I’m at work right now but it was maybe somewhere like 6-8 inches in diameter?

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nelliebelle1197

Hmmm….it says free shipping on the website for me.

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ssteenerson

I emailed them and orders over $200 (6 month subscription) have free shipping to US. She was kind enough to give me free shipping on one box since I was a new customer, but I have decided to do the 6 month option anyways. For $42 a month, it seems like a great deal.

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Rachel

Did you not separate the shipping, so $49 is the cost of the box plus shipping, or did you forget to include shipping in the post? I went to the website linked and the prices listed were not in dollars, so I couldn’t tell what the box price + shipping was. If someone could tell me what the actual total box cost is I would really appreciate it! $49? $69?

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Ragan

Shipping cost is listed in the review, in the “ships to” section. Although some people who have subscribed have reported higher shipping costs than $15, so it may vary geographically.

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mimiretz

If you go up to the top right of the screen where it says “Indian Rupees” there’s a drop down were you can change it to “US Dollars”. If you click on that and then click on the subscription boxes, it says “Free Shipping”. So the cost of the box is $49 including shipping. You also get a discount if you sign up for multiple months.

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Lauren

There’s a toggle in the upper right corner to display prices in Rupees or US Dollars – the boxes are 49$ each. The shipping for me, in Oregon, was 20$ total – but I had 2 boxes and a pillow case, so I suspect the shipping is per shipment, not per item/box. HTH 🙂

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kim

If their shipping costs even half if what it would cost me to ship this to India they are still probably absorbing some of the shipping cost

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Lauren

This might be the best sub box for my tastes, ever. My living room has a mango wood elephant table in it, along with bidriware and other Indian-themed items. Ordered it along with an extra pillowcase. I think I’m in love.

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Liz

Uh oh, I really like this box! 🙂

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Liz

Except the shipping cost for me (I’m in the Midwest) actually shows up as $20, not $15…ouch. I’ll have to hold out for a promo code to make up for the high shipping cost before I order a box from them.

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Lauren

Not sure if this helps but my order was a September box, another monthly box, and a pillowcase and my shipping was 20$ so I think the shipping charge isn’t per box, but rather per order.

heat7918

Oh wow, I want that bowl!!!! Researching now…

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Mimi

This is one of my favorite boxes ever. Everything is really unique and high quality. I will point out that usually the boxes arrive earlier — this one was late because there was some sort of festival (I e-mailed the company when my box didn’t arrive at its usual time). Customer service is as outstanding as well.

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Sayuri

Its Navratri festival in India followed by Dusherra and then our biggest festival called – Diwali. 🙂

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mimiretz

Thank you. The person who responded to my e-mail did give me the detail, but unfortunately I did not write it down, and since my memory strongly resembles a sieve, I did not remember the name of the festival.

Ragan

It took me awhile to write the review, too, so there was a little delay that was my fault. (I was out of town for one weekend recently.)

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Carrie

Oh wow, I love all of these things! Must resist subbing! Hopefully some will go up for swap.

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Bonny

I really like this reviewed box. I really like that they do not appear to be inflating the prices. I just wish the shipping costs were less.

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Ragan

I really like this box, too. A lot of new subscriptions don’t “get it” at first, in terms of diversity of items and value, but I think the people behind this box do. I guess shipping from India is expensive? They ran a promo on shipping awhile back so if I see another promo, I will be sure to mention it in my next review.

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