Chest (Corbridge hoard)

[Crispianus]

The hinges will work on a flat or curved lid about 2.5-3cm thick (estimated), basically the right angled piece is set into the inside of the lid with the looped end outside of the box, one hinge looks like its been bent out of shape so it no longer forms the right angle.
That said the "floor boards" covering the box were likely the lid, so I would say flat.

The bottom tongue and groove is speculative, could it be the plain repaired "side" with no dovetails is from the bottom?

Thank you very much for your reply! I asked the same thing in our local research group and I managed to make a drawing. When the hinge is sunked into the lid, it will not create a gap between the lid and the rest of the chest. The lid would indeed be flat.



About the bottom: Now that you mention it, that would make sense. The fact that the rivets from the "repaired end" didn't have leather traces could indicate that the fitted leather sleeve did not cover the bottom. I could be pulled over the chest from the top. The base could be attached like in my drawing below and reinforced with iron strips.

Yes that's it, I looked again at the evidence and one surviving length of reinforcement has wood grain running lengthways, I think this is supposed to be the repair to one corner of the box but doesnt make much sense, more likely the bottom edge...

The leather cover is described as covering very closely, so most likely permanently fixed in some fashion thats not clear, the leather covers everything nails and reinforcing strips, though I couldnt see any mention of it covering the lock plate... theres also what looks like part of a staple for the lock.

Again no remains of the bottom other then the strip mentioned above.