Federal Period
Nice Document Box / Trunk Hand-Crafted by Robert Burr
c. 1810 American Decorative Leather and Brass Tack Document Box or Miniature Trunk, with its Original Paper Label, Signed in print by Robert Burr of Boston, Mass., Choice Very Fine.
A museum quality American made Document Box measures 5" wide x 8" long x 4" high, beautifully decorated and handcrafted, upholstered in rich brown leather with brass tacks and paper period lining. A large central raised "Lion Head" with a pull ring within its mouth adds eye appeal to the top of the lid. The leather cowhide is pinked along the dust edge. Almost all early Boston trunks that are intact have a blue Hand-blocked dotted paper on either the bottom or the lining. This high quality Document Box has both! Its full original maker's paper label on the inside center of the lid reads: "Robert Burr, Saddle and Trunk - Maker, Nos.. 1 & 3..., Hanover-Street, Next to Concert-Hall, Boston." The lock has a hand wrought iron hasp with a little rat tail at the end, hand-wrought cut nails and a swinging spade-shaped cover for a keyhole escutcheon, no key present. The bottom has the same classic paper as the lining, and brass tack feet. This example is very well preserved, a true piece of early American manufacturing history. Provenance Ex: Alexander Gaston Collection.