Presumed 18th Century Heavy Book Shaped Writing Box with Original Red Paint Remnants, Likely British antique padlock These from the same box

These from the same box of pottery odds and ends as the clay dinosaur I just listed

Albumen photo print on thin paper: 9 7/8" x 7 3/4"

and marital problems

which looks more soft black from above and more reddish (varnished) from the sides

Presumed 18th Century Heavy Book Shaped Writing Box with Original Red Paint Remnants, Likely British antique padlock These from the same boxI've had a couple of 19th century book shaped tole painted boxes holding ink wells with room for pens and letters inside; this I believe is an earlier and finer precursor to those, 18th century British I think. I purchased it at one of the shows in Nashville from a dealer who had purchased it at auction, described that way, and it is most definitely old, crafted, it appears to me, of thick, heavy brass (it is quite heavy and substantial for its size.)