A striking South American rawhide travel chest in the traditional petaca form, hand-made from thick structural hide and finished with applied geometric leather decoration across the front and sides. The dark, aged surface has developed a rich patina over time, while contrasting pale leather strips form lattice and stepped motifs that give the piece a strong graphic quality.
Unlike leather-covered trunks built over timber frames, this example is constructed from hide itself, with stitched seams and flexible rawhide structure throughout. This method belongs to a long tradition of portable storage used across the Spanish Colonial Americas and later rural South American contexts, where such chests were valued for their durability, lightness, and practicality in transport. The hide handle and simple stitched construction reinforce its vernacular, working character.
It now works equally well as a decorative interior piece, offering strong texture, sculptural form, and a well-aged surface. A distinctive storage object with clear ethnographic and design appeal.
The chest is fitted with a substantial iron padlock stamped “Improved Secure Tumbler Lock,” featuring a brass escutcheon plate and robust shackle. This is a later addition, likely European in origin and dating to the late 19th or early 20th century, rather than original to the chest itself. It nonetheless complements the piece well, reinforcing its utilitarian character and adding a visually strong, functional element to the overall presentation.
Measurements
Height: 33 cm
Width: 65 cm
Depth: 42–43 cm
Weight: 8.98 kg
Condition
Good overall antique condition for its type. Expected wear throughout including scuffs, abrasions, dryness, surface rubbing, and uneven darkening to the rawhide. Age-related wear and minor losses to some of the applied decorative strips. General wear to the handle and stitched elements consistent with age and use. The chest remains structurally sound and displays well.
