Rare to find in any condition, this is a mid-1700s gold-embossed fine leather 11 3/4" tall writer's chest. Shown from all sides, you can see it's well-preserved for one of these so old. Most we see, and they're quite rare, have much deterioration or loss to the beautiful old leather, lost handles, even to bad odors of the centuries. I've had this one for a decade now, no odors, superb period piece with its original silk velvet interior. I lean to it being Italian, but found in France, and some were French. I do think the interior silk velvet is Fortuny, too. It shows well on a desktop.
Very good condition for age and type. This is not a 19th century piece, but a full century earlier, scribe's elegant chest, or a Noble's. Made large and in the form of the Georgian equivalent cutlery boxes, It is missing the top flap to the handcrafted latch/closure, so it can't be latched closed. The lining inside doesn't go all the way to bottom of the box, precious as it was in its time, only the portions showing would have been on view when the old handmade paper and vellum supply would have been in place. Original handmade paper bottom remains, as well. Shown from all sides for your review of condition. Leather clad wooden construction. Full measurements are noted on the photos.
