Trunks and storage chests were the most ubiquitous form of household storage throughout the Ming and Qing dynasties. Used to store clothes, linens and other household items, trunks were found in every room of the home and were often stacked on top of one another. Elegant in its simplicity, this small trunk from the early 20th century is cloaked in an allover layer of dark burgundy lacquer. The glossy lacquer is brushed atop a finishing layer of hand-stitched hide and decorated only by the original brass hardware, now oxidized with a lovely patina. Some warping to hide on interior.