Trunk

Object Name:

Trunk

Object ID:

1968.009

Creator:

Hill, James R. (1821-1884)Leatherworker

Place of Origin:

Concord, NH

Date:

circa 1845

Description:

Trunk, small, leather-covered, finished with brass tacks, which also form diamond pattern on top with leather-covered handle in center. Round leather strap handle on top, 0.4" diameter, stitched on bottom edge. Outside distance of handle at lid 3.9". Handle ends extend under leather and through top wood surface, fastened with iron tacks on inside surface under lining paper and label. Leather covering smooth dark color material. Decorative band at each end applied to surface, 0.5" wide. Held down with brass upholstery tacks. Extends from front bottom edge to back bottom edge. Tacks spacing on decorative band 0.4" on center. Diamond-shaped pattern of upholstery tacks on top. Central portion 8.4" wide x 4.6" high. Additional decoration of three tacks in row with one on top at each corner. This formation only exists at one corner, but holes and small circular depressions at other three corners of diamond. Plain leather apron, 1.1" wide, around bottom edge of lid, held in place its top edge by brass upholstery tacks. Slight evidence of a line along bottom edge of row of tacks holding apron in place. Iron lock plate roughly centered on front surface of bottom section, 2.5" wide x 1.9" high. Held in place by more round-head iron tacks, one at each corner. Surface of lock plate chipped in some areas where previously black coating. Keyhole with iron stub in center of lock section and a small protuberance at bottom edge of hole near bottom center of plate. Two iron stud ends on either side of keyhole. Round piece of brass with iron tack through center above keyhole. Bottom edge flat and broken. No doubt was pivoting brass cover for keyhole. Vertically oriented rectangular hole at top left side of lock plate. Hinged iron hasp fastened to lid with iron tacks. Hasp with concave sides near its hinge with parallel flat sides lower down, clipped corners at bottom with flat edge. Small, semi-circular finger tap at bottom of hasp. Iron loop at back of hasp. Front surface painted black. Two slightly-raised stud ends on front surface. Box material thickness on front and sides 0.52". Evidence of two leather hinge straps at back of box between bottom and top sections, ~1" wide, hidden underneath lining paper and leather coating on outside. Some stains in paper on left side may relate to strap and its fastening devices. Leather strap, 1.6" wide and 1.7" long at center in back of box interior. Attached to interior of lid surface with four brass upholstery tacks. Bottom edge of strap nailed to back surface on inside of box with three iron tacks. Evidence of brass upholstery tacks prior to iron tacks. Lined with old pink-patterned paper. Lining paper consists of fanciful shape with many angled edges in darker pink color. Single wide dot in center of each shape. Shapes patterned repeat of 0.8" in a line. Shapes sit on a ribbon , ~0.4" wide. Many small scattered specks to ribbon for its content behind shapes. Plain band between them with stylized, straight lined scalloped pattern with many small zig-zags in it. Pattern width 1.2" between fanciful shapes in same plane. Band with fanciful shapes shifted up one half of one repeat between them. Bottom of box plain wood. Loose piece of paper tucked into front edge under leather with word "Hood" in blue ink hand script on it; now put into box. Printed paper label adhered to inside of lid: "JAMES R. HILL, / --Manufacturer and Dealer in -- / Saddles, Bridles, Martingals and Harnesses; / Solid Leather, Boot Top, and common Trunks, / Valises and Carpet Bags. / LADIES' CARPET SATCHELS, AND DRESS TRUNKS. / Saddler's Silk, Fire Buckets, Whip and Whip Thongs, &c. / ---ALSO--- / A PRIME ASSORTMENT OF / SADDLERY HARD WARE, / WHICH WILL BE SOLD VERY CHEAP FOR CASH. / 134 Main Street, Concord, N.H."; printed border with different rosettes in corners.

Material:

Wood
Leather
Brass
Iron
Paper

Dimensions:

H-5.7 W-12.1 D-8.6 inches Weight-50.5 oz

Provenance:

This trunk was used by Jonathan Little, who served in the New Hampshire Legislature 1845-46, from Warren (Summit), NH.

Credit Line:

Gift of Carl E. Burch

People:

Hill, James R. (1821-1884), Little, Jonathan (1804-1889)

Subjects:

Boxes, Trunks