Trunk
Furniture MakerMade by
Unknown
Dateleather 1750-1770, trunk 1805
MediumPainted and gilded leather, wood, newspaper, iron hardware
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width x depth): 9 x 23 1/4 x 10 3/4in. (22.9 x 59.1 x 27.3cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineMuseum purchase
Object number1999.61.0
DescriptionRectangular wooden trunk covered with mid-eighteenth century embossed, painted and gilt leather and lined with newspaper dated 1805. The top has squared corners and fits down over a lip at the interior top front and sides of the trunk. The leather covers all but the bottom of the trunk and is painted with embossed rococo designs of red, white, green and blue flowers, gilt and painted scrolls, all on a painted light green background. The lower front and side edges of the top have a thick strip of decorative brown leather held in place with tacks; the lower edge of the leather has a pinked, or jagged, scalloped edge. Each side of the top and body is lined with a thin strip of brown leather that is tacked with brass or iron nails onto the trunk. Hardware includes a pair of iron hinges joining the top to the body of the trunk. The lower front edge of the top has an iron strap below the leather that pivots on a hinge to join the iron lock escutcheon on the front of the body of the trunk.
Interior. The interior of the trunk, both the lid and the body, is completely lined with newspaper printed in black ink. A portion of the newspaper is printed with the title, location and date of "THE COURIER/ NORWICH (CON.) PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY - THOMAS HUBBARD - AT HIS OFFICE IN CHELSEA/ [VOL IX.] WEDNESDAY APRIL 17, 1805 [NO. 22]". The remainder of the newspaper is printed with one or two articles and a great number of advertisements and legal notices.
Condition: The leather is carefully pieced to cover the trunk and has holes which do not correspond to matching tack holes in the wood; this suggests that the leather was used for another purpose before being applied to the trunk. The scalloped brown leather is also lightly cracked; a piece has torn off of the back left side. The painted leather is lightly cracked and worn, revealing the tin undercoat. There are some insect holes in the painted leather. The interior bottom of the trunk has insect holes in the newspaper and wood. The leather has been cleaned.
Design and Construction Details: The construction of the trunk is obscurred by the leather and newspaper. The top and body of the trunk are probably constructed with butt joints that are secured with nails. A lip, consisting of a thin strip of wood with a tapered top and bottom edge, is applied to the interior of the top front and side edges of the body of the trunk. The painted leather covering consists of several pieces that are arefully fitted together. The leather is applied to the trunk with small iron tacks; larger iron tacks are used to attach the brown leather to the edges and corners of the trunk. The leather does not completely cover the bottom of the trunk. The newspaper is glued to all interior surfaces, edges, and the lip of the trunk.
NotesTechnique Note: Gilt Leather. Leather decorated with metal leaf was often called "Spanish leather" because the technique originated in Morrish Spain; by the seventeenth century, the Netherlands were the lead producers of Spanish leather. To make this leather, calf, goat or sheepskin was covered with silver-colored metal leaf (in this case, tin) then burnished and coated with a transparent yellow-brown lacquer to give it the appearance of gold. An embossed pattern was added to the leather by damping it and passing it through a rolling press. Oil paints were applied by hand to complete the decoration.Interior. The interior of the trunk, both the lid and the body, is completely lined with newspaper printed in black ink. A portion of the newspaper is printed with the title, location and date of "THE COURIER/ NORWICH (CON.) PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY - THOMAS HUBBARD - AT HIS OFFICE IN CHELSEA/ [VOL IX.] WEDNESDAY APRIL 17, 1805 [NO. 22]". The remainder of the newspaper is printed with one or two articles and a great number of advertisements and legal notices.
Condition: The leather is carefully pieced to cover the trunk and has holes which do not correspond to matching tack holes in the wood; this suggests that the leather was used for another purpose before being applied to the trunk. The scalloped brown leather is also lightly cracked; a piece has torn off of the back left side. The painted leather is lightly cracked and worn, revealing the tin undercoat. There are some insect holes in the painted leather. The interior bottom of the trunk has insect holes in the newspaper and wood. The leather has been cleaned.
Design and Construction Details: The construction of the trunk is obscurred by the leather and newspaper. The top and body of the trunk are probably constructed with butt joints that are secured with nails. A lip, consisting of a thin strip of wood with a tapered top and bottom edge, is applied to the interior of the top front and side edges of the body of the trunk. The painted leather covering consists of several pieces that are arefully fitted together. The leather is applied to the trunk with small iron tacks; larger iron tacks are used to attach the brown leather to the edges and corners of the trunk. The leather does not completely cover the bottom of the trunk. The newspaper is glued to all interior surfaces, edges, and the lip of the trunk.
Status
Not on view
