Featured Wooden box, what for and where from

Odd shaped lightweight wooden box that appears to have been lacquered.
Hasp for a lock on the front, side handles, 2 hinges.
It is felt lined.

 

Bit big for binoculars.

 

I was wondering, before it was felt lined, if it was silver foil lined and storage for tea or spices.

 

I`m still undecided on this piece, the curved sides are bentwood, it is very well made but I believe lacquered later.

The story goes.

I get a call from a lady in London to say her father had died and he had a storage lockup in my area, the rent had been paid but no one had been there for over 5 years.

She told me a family friend (a Policeman) had recommended me as being a reliable source to clear it for her and that is how she had obtained my number.

The Policeman is based over 80 miles away and I don`t know him, so it remains a mystery, to me.

Anyhow it turns out the lock-up is right next door to my two rented lock-ups in the next village.

Coincidence ---I don`t know but the plot thickens.

I goes to my lock up and obtain the keys for next door from the landlord.
He tells me the rent has been paid every month but no one has visited in years.

I go in and the place has the contents of a full home all boxed up and stacked in boxes.
Furniture and domestic appliances are all neatly stacked.

Bats have infested the place and it was like a furnace in there.
Bat poo gives off dangerous toxic gases so I grabbed this box and retreated.

I left the place open to ventilate and contacted the lady in London.

She agreed a price with me to clear it and did a direct bank transfer of cash into my account.

The place is now mine to empty until 1st August, then the landlord takes it over to re-rent.

I went back this evening and began removing some of the bigger good stuff and placing it next door. no transportation required.

I`m only around 15% in and already found silver and cash but no gold or booze.
I`ll post some of the other stuff on the finds thread as I find it.

Oh and @Any Jewelry
Here is a Dutch beer for size comparison rather than German,

 

She can`t be arsed to travel up and look, yet is attending his funeral in 10 days.
Very odd, I don`t even know where the guy was living, he might have been in a home or hospital, but the rent was paid.

I`m not complaining.
This is the most rewarding job I`ve had.

No one is trying to kill or injure me , no one is arguing with me, I start and finish when I like, the punters pay me and then thank me.

It takes some getting used to, but I think I like it.

 

Good suggestion Spring but I believe this one is more sturdy and larger than a collar box.
Collar boxes seem to be made of the same material as a hat box.