A fine, C18th, George III domed chest, covered with elaborately tooled brown leather, bearing the king’s cypher to all sides.
Original marbled paper lining to the interior, the whole raised on later added turned feet.
This form of trunk appears to have been popular with monarchs going back to at least Charles I, an example from whose reign, c1640, resides at Rushbrooke Hall, Suffolk.
According to the ‘Dictionary of English Furniture’:
”Until the late C18th a coffer-maker is found mentioned among the officers of the Royal Household, and the accounts in the Record Office show that between 1750 and 1760, Edward Smith, who then held that office, supplied George II and various members of the court with a large number of trunks covered with russia leather (sic).”
Similar, C18th travelling trunks can also be found in the Royal collection at the Palace of Holyroodhouse and in the Queen Anne Bedroom at Warwick Castle.
Wear commensurate with age and purpose.
English, c1770.
Measurements: H: 16” (41cm); W: 27” (69cm); D: 15.75” (40cm).