Antique, 19th century stagecoach/coaching strong box, rare and useful item

This is an antique 19th century stagecoach or coaching strongbox in pine with a leather (?) covered lid. It was a barn find by the original owner and mice had taken up residence within it having eaten through part of the back. There was also some rot in the floor. I always like to retain as much originality as I can when restoring even barn finds, as an item is only original once. Only the rotten wood had been cut away, and where none existed, there was obviously no alternative but to use substitute pine.

I have retained as much of the original red paint as possible. The new wood has been colour-matched so as to blend it in with the original paintwork.

When it was made, the top of this strongbox seems to have been clad in red leather. None of this leather has been disturbed. It is crazed all over.

Black paint appears to underlie the red leather. This is especially evident in the scalloped recesses at the front of the lid. I am convinced that there was once some lettering and numbers on this lid. The letters ‘N’ and ‘0’ are the most discernible of the alphanumeric symbols.

The front face of this box exhibits two colours: black and red, with the black having been laid down first. I suspect that the whole box was once black in colour (paint and leather) and that at some point in its history this box has been ‘refreshed’ with red paint. This was clearly done a good many years ago and this change of colour has sufficient age that it is now part of the history of this item.

The leather has been fed. Although it is crazed all over, it is not flaking off, and is very secure. So as to retain the originality of the box I have left the lid alone.

The front and back of the top are scalloped, but these scallops are too close together to indicate that they were to accommodate the legs of the driver or a passenger and the hasp and lock would have caused considerable discomfort !! I cannot explain their purpose.

It is easy to imagine that the scallops on the sides acted as hand holds when this item was being moved, a lock ensuring that the lid would not open during this process. The bottom of a thumb fits neatly into each of these scallops. 

There are three holes in the base with one washer still existing. Bolts would have gone through these holes and attached this strongbox to the stagecoach/carriage. 

In order to make this a useable object I have added the two handles, but these are easily removed if total authenticity is desired. The handles are 19th century in date so are in keeping with the box. 

The lock is not original to the box but is extremely worn and pitted suggesting that it has been outside for many years. Though not original to this item it helps to complete its look.

This would today make a unique toolbox

This item is for collection only from Buntingford (East Herts Sg9)

Please see my other items which are predominantly 18th and 19th century in date