Saddlebag

Object Name:

Saddlebag

Object ID:

1959.004

Date:

circa 1830

Description:

Saddlebags. Used by Dr. Elias Frost (1782-1863) of Meriden, NH. Brown leather. First bag: rectangular box with bottom; leather hinge halfway between front and back tabs of box. Heavy paperboard lining that gives some finish and possibly support for rectangular shape. Inside bag, paper box, 2" high x 1.8" square. Has slip-on cover 0.6" high. Inside cover, on bottom of top, rectangle with turned-up edges, ~0.2" high. This creates seal for top edge of lower box. Dark brown residues on inside and outside of box. On top cover surface is inscribed in black ink: "Co / Co (&) .." On inside of leather box, heavy paper has a thinner inside surface laminated in some areas. Evidence of dark finish on inside surface. Finish worn, abraded, some loss. Losses in mechanical strength of paperboard at some corners and junctions. Cover flap for box assembly that stretches across top back, across top, and about halfway down front. Enough leather to slightly extend beyond sides. Front edge curved down toward center. Slight crease along edge of this cover. Three narrow straps sewn to cover below front edge where cover turns down; form fork shape and come together and are sewn together near bottom edge of cover flap. Strap extends downward where it can pass through steel buckle and tongue, sewn to surface near bottom edge front surface of box. When box is standing upright, back, bottom, and front edges are sewn together with threads that show on outside. Vertical seam on sides and across top of box are smooth, cut surfaces. Back of box extends above top edge; top surface of box folded upward at back edge; the two surfaces sewn together. Band that connects the two bags looks to be sewn between back and top surfaces at back. Cover flap sewn to broad band. Some additional sewing has taken place, possibly for repair, at junction between broad band, cover flap, and box itself. Broad band between boxes, a little less than 8" wide. Distance between cover flap top edges ~14.5". Broad band has two close-spaced slots at either end, vertical in relation to tops of boxes. Second box similar to first; condition worse. Cover flap for this box has several holes in it. Looks like secondary piece of leather sewn underneath cover flap for box and extends almost to front edge where it turns down and stops. Two small remnants of leather straps remaining on front flap. Shadow marks indicating where straps were placed in similar configuration with first box examined. On front of this box, near bottom, remnants of strap that probably held buckle. Similar construction to first box in regard to outside seams and edges. Front portion of box has had top edge cut away so seven square paper tubes can fit vertically. Secondary piece of leather crudely sewn on inside surface across top inside edge to hold these paper tubes in place. This band uneven but ~2.7" long from top to bottom. One paper tube at right side with box inside of it. Box does not come out. Box cover comes off and slides over neck of box. Cover has square plug inside surface that fits into neck of box. Box 2.8" deep inside. Some darkened residues on outside surface. Open space below this area. Piece of leather sewn so that it is perpendicular to front surface and creates small rectangular space. Three small boxes that fit into this space. One 0.9" high x 1.2" square. Has slip-type cover. Some shiny residue on cover that might be indicative of label. Dark residues on sides of box and cover. Another box 1.95" high x 1.2" square. Slip-type cover also. Obscured paper label on top, some reddish color background on top surface. Sides of box are dark colored, worn. Third box 1.9" high x 1.2" square. Slip cover. Worn, dark surfaces on sides. Some dark symbols on top in black ink, appearing to be two Vs with unknown symbol between them. All of boxes are heavy paper. In back half of bag, piece of leather sewn rather crudely around left, top, and right edges to create complete partition. Top original surface of box cut to create four holes ~1.3" diameter. Heavy paperboard bent and folded to create liners below holes, probably to hold some type of round bottle. Holes vary in depth; shortest on left, tallest on right side. Back piece leather for box and cover flap were sewn to wide band. Repaired piece (secondary piece for cover flap) looks to have been sewn to back piece above top edge. Broad band connecting boxes tapers to ~6" width near center point. Small tear in this band near center on one edge.

Material:

Leather
Iron
Paper

Dimensions:

H-7 W-8.5 L-29 D-4 inches

Credit Line:

Gift of Arthur A. Chivers

People:

Frost, Elias (1782-1863)

Subjects:

Saddles, Physicians, Doctors