Mauritanian Copper Treasure Chest

Round iron crosses on every face, with a copper stud in each.

This treasure chest comes from Mauritania in northwest Africa and dates to the 20th century. It is wood, iron and copper. Iron fittings on chests of this kind did double duty, reinforcing the boards and locking the contents against theft while also showing what a smith could do. Pale, weathered planks carry cut-iron crosses of joined discs, and a dark central plate holds a long hasp. Splits and marks run across the front boards. Twenty-eight inches long and 16.5 high.

Nobody opened this one quietly.