Dbeeksci

The original was velvet. This is similar. I put hand-marbled paper on the base.

Here is the relined interior.

Here's my finished leather-covered early 19th c case. I'll add multiple images.

These cases date from early 19th c ca 1820. Yes, I agree they were gold leaf stamped prior to glueing onto the lid. I'm learning how to skiv and having a hard time with such pliable thin leather that stretches so easily. I'll keep trying!

Following are images of small 19th c leather covered boxes with domed tops (all cased dental instruments). These are very slight domes, (not like that larger hump-back boxes). They all appear to be stretched single-piece leather tops that are gold embossed (or debossed).

YinTx: That's a really good point, I don't know for sure however the way the leather has been cut and folded suggest it was not very pliable. Then again, the boxes with domed tops appear to have been covered when the leather was slightly damp in order to conform properly. Hide-glue was used for both the interior velvet and the exterior leather. Boxes where leather was used as a hinge must have used a pliable glue along the hinge area. I'm assuming the gold embossing was the last of the process.

Hi: I'm in central US. Yes, I'm familiar with the varied treatments of old leather and now learning about the drying process of new leathers is priority. The new leather that I'm using .05 thin and too pliable. I have soaked it in cold water and then immersed in 180 degree (F) water for just a minute. It is now drying at room temp. We'll see how it dries; hopefully it is a bit more stiff. I've noted from other's that it's dangerous to apply heat however I may take a test piece and use a hair dryer.

I'm a restorer looking for information related to the processing and covering of small cases and boxes with thin leather during the 18th and early 19th centuries. I have several early boxes that need to be rebuilt and recovered. These cases were made to hold all sorts of early devices, from medical and scientific instruments to silver items and delicate glass items. They were cased within velvet-lined thin wooden boxes covered with paper-weight stiffened and decoratively-embossed leather. Has anyone read or know of a resource for information on the historic methods of treating leather to make it stiff, yet still pliable enough to be gold emboss. An image below shows a piece of the original 1820s leather removed from the case. I thank you in advance for any assistance. Dale