Bidspirit auction | Antique 19th Century Domed Top

Antique 19th Century Domed Top Hair on Hide Document Box with Brass Tack Initials - An antique 19th-century travel trunk or document box featuring a domed-top design. The primary construction is softwood, visible on the unfinished underside. The exterior is covered in hair-on animal hide and is trimmed with leather banding secured by brass studs. The lid is decorated with ornamental brass studs that spell out the initials A . H (photo 2). A brass bail handle is mounted to the center of the lid (photo 1). The chest is secured with an rectangular iron lock plate and hasp on the front face (photo 3). The interior is lined with a period block-printed paper featuring a repeating pink floral or fan motif (photo 7). Fragments of leather support straps remain on the interior sides (photo 8). The base is unfinished wood showing grain and knots (photo 11) with visible iron nails along the edges (photo 12). Length: 17 inches Height: 6 3/4 inches. The hide covering shows significant balding and hair loss on the lid, sides, and rear (photos 4, 6, 9). The leather edge banding is severely deteriorated, displaying dry rot, brittleness, and major sections that are peeling or missing (photos 1, 3, 4, 6). The iron lock hardware exhibits heavy oxidation and surface rust (photo 3). The interior paper lining is stained, foxed, and torn, particularly at the corners and hinges (photo 8). The interior leather stays are broken (photo 7). The wooden base shows age-related surface abrasions and typical wood shrinkage (photo 11). No key is present.