The arched rectangular top decorated twice with GR surmounted by a closed crown, the front set with a closed crown above a scrolled heart-shaped cartouche, the corners of the lid and coffer set with pierced hinge-shaped reinforcements, each side set with a handle, lined with marbelized paper, bearing a label Edward Smith/Coffer & Plate-Case Maker/To His MAJESTY/And his Royal Highness ye Prince of Wales/At the King's Arms & Three Trunks/At Charing Cross/Makes & Sells all Sorts of Sumpter &/Portmantuas, Trunks & Leathers/Portmantuas Valleese's & Canteens/Leather .... Buckets & Jacks/Likewise Cases for Plate, China,/Glasses at Reasonable Rates

Travelling trunks of this form with similar decorative brass-studding originated in the seventeenth century and continued to be produced into the eighteenth century. An example belonging to Charles I dating to circa 1640 and decorated with his royal monogram and crown is illustrated in R. Symonds, The Dictionary of English Furniture, rev.edn., Woodbridge, Suffolk, 1954, vol.II, p.19, fig. 36. Richard Pigge, coffer-maker to Charles II, supplied a large number of trunks covered in 'russia leather' to members of the Court from 1667-1671.

Another trunk bearing Edward Smith's trade label was sold Sotheby's London, 19 June 1981, lot 59. Another labelled Smith and Lucas was sold in these Rooms, 30 April 1997, lot 106.