A very robust brassbound William IV Anglo-Chinese padouk silver chest

A very robust brassbound William IV Anglo-Chinese padouk silver chest, of rectangular form with a hinged lid and the original substantial brass carrying handles, the lock stamped ‘Barron WR Patent’.  Circa 1830.

Footnote:  In 1778 Robert Barron patented the double–acting tumbler (later called a lever) lock.  This revolutionary advance in lock design remains the basic principle of all lever locks.  In 1818 Jeremiah Chubb added a spring which would catch and hold any lever that had been raised too high by a lock picker.  This added extra security and also showed when a lock had been tampered with.