<b>Object Type</b><br>This is a particularly fine example of a travelling coffer, or trunk. The outside of the trunk would originally also have been covered in leather, making it waterproof. Travelling trunks dating from earlier centuries were plain inside with perhaps two small drawers. By the16th century the interiors of expensive trunks for documents or small objects were fitted with many trays and drawers. Some, like this one, had a drop front to provide access to the contents.<br><br><b>People</b><br>The letter 'ER' probably relates to Edward VI who reigned from 1547 to 1553, rather than his sister Elizabeth I. The style of the coat of arms and the gold ornament are similar to bookbindings from his reign.<br><br><b>Materials and Making</b><br>The box would have been made by a specialist coffer-maker, who was skilled in the use of wood, leather and textiles. William Green of London supplied coffers to the Royal Household during the reign of Edward VI, but we do not know whether he supplied this one.