Featured Wood and leather box with brass studs, French? Age please.

A new friend, a wooden silk lined valuables box with brass studs. There are leather decorations on the sides and on the centre of the lid. The leather on the lid is embossed, like old wall leather.
The seller thought it was Indian, but I think it is French. The dovetail construction and scroll decoration are not Indian, and the French continued this 16th century (or older) European studded style until the beginning of the 20th century. And there is an abundance of fleur-de-lis.
I found some antique French chests with brass studs in a similar style online, but no boxes.
Can anyone confirm it is French? And any idea of the age? I think at least 19th century, although it could have been added to. And the kind of wood? It has two old deserted tiny wormholes.

I know you all like before and after pics, so here is how I got it:


Brass polish everywhere, some ink and other goo:


After the first bit of tlc, still needs a bit more attention. I added an old tassel to the tiny key so I wouldn't lose it, it is the same colour as the lining:


Back, with the old favourite, the green lighter, for size:


Bottom with stud feet:


Side with round leather patch:


I love those tiny dovetails:


Thank you for looking, more pics in next post.

 

The lock, does it look like it could have been replaced?

In the lid:


The inside, first painted red and then lined with silk. Would the lining have been added at a later date?
There are supports in the corners for a tray, but it looks like they were later additions. There is no tray


Hidden compartment for letters or documents:


Hinge, modern screws?


Leather decoration on lid:

 

Thanks, inh.
I am relying on you to find a similar one of course. No pressure....

 

Great box. Love the lining!

 

AJ, that's a nifty little box!! I'm not really good at deciphering woods, unless they're very obvious, so I can't speak to that. If the lock hasn't been changed, and it may not have been, I'd say it has at least been re-worked.....maybe it got stuck locked...needed taking apart to fix.....? Still cute as a bug's ear!!!!

 

if only the box could talk......i'll bet it would be a good story !

It looks like a cabinet makers one off piece....
The lining has a feminine touch,
while the outside is much more masculine.
The hardware doesn't match up . The hinges look much newer than the lock....but the way the lock is seated in the wood is a mess....while the hinges look perfect and undisturbed..so they are the ones that may have been replaced .
The maker had a wealth of studs & metal fleur-de-lis available to him, & what looks like a dresser handle....thus a professional cabinet maker.

I doubt even I need Help could find another one of these.........( no offense meant)...... but I think it's one of a kind !

 

Wow, AJ, nice refurbishing on your new friend I love the precious lining contrast with the old safe chest looking out outside

The tassel is an excellent way to keep the tiny key in view and not lost it!

Not sure it could be French, the fleurs de lis can be there only for ornemental purpose without a symbolism, and all those studs are IMHO a little too much for French fashion.
Komo may be right for someone having access to a lot of hardware

 

Isn't it! I like the way that it is a box trying very hard to look like a grown up chunky chest.

I agree, it looks like it has had an interesting history, and many hands working on it at different times of its life.
Since I can't find one like it, I was wondering if it could have been a bespoke box to go with a chest. For travel maybe? Has it sailed the seven seas? We'll never know....

 

Thanks, it was in good structural condition, but desparately needed some tlc. Which I didn't mind giving. The tassel is mandatory in my case, if I am working on jewellery I tend to propel jewellery findings across the room.

I agree, someone had a lot of fun decorating it.
From the information I could find, the French were the last to make brass studded chests. If it isn't French, it has to be much older than I think.
Maybe made for a French chauvinist? Or someone in the colonies who wanted to assert his French identity? Which could bring us back to the idea of India or further east, even though the box is European made. Maybe it even belonged to a relative of yours once? (I am not giving it back. )

 

Thank you!
I was thinking, maybe @Poisonivy can date the silk?

 

Hummm, now you said... I may consider it belonged to my Grands

 

It is staying where it is.

 

The leather under the handle has fleur-de-lys embossed into it too. That to me would rule out this being a reproduction or shed work. The hinges look brand harry spankers, but the rest... dunno. Somebody put some serious tack hammer time in on it.(LOL) Could it be Spanish instead of French?

And as to those darned jewelry findings - you need a cat. Mine earns her keep finding all the loose beads and things that go flying on me. She bats them out of hiding a day or two later.

 

I couldn't find any 19th century Spanish ones in this style. If it is Spanish, it is much older than I think. The same goes for other European countries, as far as I know. The style is originally 16th century, possibly older. The French apparently took a liking to it, they kept making it till ca 1900.

I know. But I always say, if you can't take it to the vet, don't take a pet.
My health prevents me from leaving the house most days, and if I do, I have to book a taxi online, in advance, because of speech difficulties. That is a problem when you have a cat emergency. Besides, after booking a taxi I am too exhausted to go to the vet. So no more cats.

 

I hope so.

 

Hi AJ, Yes the lining has been added later but I can't date it sadly....
It does have age though and has probably been in there for quite some time, it's very pretty

 

Thank you, Poisonivy. That would fit in with what @komokwa said of a feminine touch in a masculine looking box. Maybe a gentleman's document box that was turned into a jewellery box. We'll probably never know.
Would you say the lining has been in there for over 100 years?