Tibetan Trunk with Fitted Base

Packed for a hard road, then given its own stand to recover.

This trunk with a fitted base comes from Tibet and dates to the 19th century, made of leather over wood with brass mounts. Trunks of this kind kept clothing, cloth and household valuables safe in Tibetan homes and on long journeys, when belongings traveled by pack animal. The dark surface has rubbed back in patches to a paler brown, showing most across the front. A round pierced metal plate holds the lock at center. The low black stand ends in small curled feet. 28 inches long and 18 high.

Whatever it carried, it is not saying.