Trunk

Object Name:

Trunk

Object ID:

1971.022

Creator:

Brown, William (1752-1834)

Place of Origin:

Dover, NH

Date:

circa 1810

Description:

Domed pine trunk, made by William Brown, Dover, NH. c. 1810. Covered with hide, four bands of leather attached with brass tacks, scalloped leather overlap on cover with notched leather bases for the brass tacks. Brass Queen Anne-type handle. Leather on top extends down back side and wraps around bottom, where it is held in place by iron tacks. New piece of leather inserted on back. Some extends to right under old leather. From left edge, insert: ~7.5" horizontally. Original leather cut vertically to create somewhat straight edge where it overlaps new piece. Handle medallions, 4.2" from outside edge to outside edge on top. Center line of hole posts: 3.1". Decorative bands 0.5" wide at either end on top. Two interior bands, 0.45" wide. These dimensions apply to where bands extend down front surface of box. Most of decorative bands lost and missing on left side on back surface of box where new piece of leather now is. Leather apron, 1.2" wide around bottom edge of lid. Series of serrated scallops along its bottom edge. Scallops width: 0.7". A series of adjoining discs with serrated edges at top edge of apron. Discs same dimensions as scalloped bottom edge. Each disc held in place with brass upholstery tack. Apron folded into joint between top and bottom on ends. No evidence of decorative apron on back surface of box. Iron lock plate on bottom front surface, roughly centered, 2.7" wide x 1.8" high; appears to be painted black; held in place by four brass upholstery tacks which pass through some type of leather decoration. Fragments of leather with serrated edges under these brass tack heads. Rectangular opening, vertically oriented upper left corner on lock plate. Keyhole vertically oriented bottom center of plate. Post in center of top portion of keyhole. Three roughly-circular lobes from top to bottom in keyhole. Two vertical flange ends on either side of top of keyhole, connect with front and back plates of lock mechanisms. No key present. Elongated, drop-shaped hasp attached to lid of box, held in place by one brass and two iron tacks. Lock mechanism may have been added after box finished since elements protrude into detailed decorations and surfaces. Split in leather on front center on lid, extending ~3" across top towards handle. A lot of wear to box on outside surfaces. Losses to leather on right-hand end of lid. Bottom of box plain wood surface with worn leather strips as part of exterior surface. Raised lip on inside of box, ~0.6" high on front and side edges. Created by addition of pieces of wood nailed in place by iron tacks. Rather new-looking piece of leather, 0.3" wide, nailed to left end of lid with brass upholstery tack at left side of interior. Its other end nailed to lip piece at left end of bottom with steel tack. Wood strap keeps lid from opening too far. Two leather hinges can be seen at back edge of interior of box attached to base and lid. Length of thin straps unknown, but may be able to slightly feel edge on right-hand strap as viewed from back where it extends down body, ~1.25" from joint between top and bottom. Two short brass, threaded rods with round brass nuts on them on inside of lid, for handle pivots on top of box. Label on inside of lid, roughly 3" wide by 1.5" high. "TRUNKS, / MADE AND SOLD, BY / WILLIAM BROWN, / DOVER, (N. H.)". Lined with newspaper "The Sun, Dover N.H. May 19, 1810".

Material:

Leather
Wood
Pine
Brass
Iron
Paper
Steel

Dimensions:

H-4.8 W-12.2 D-6.4 inches Weight-25.9 oz

Credit Line:

Gift of I. Spain Willingham

People:

Brown, William (1752-1834)

Subjects:

Boxes, Trunks