Late Victorian / Edwardian Travelling Case
.
Stencilled for Miss Lollie Potter – Possible Theatre Association c.1890–1910
.
There is something quietly powerful about an object that carries a name — and with it, the suggestion of a life lived on the move.
.
This substantial wooden travelling case dates to the late Victorian or early Edwardian period and is constructed in solid pine with reinforcing battens, iron hinges, and an original hook closure. Designed for durability rather than display, it was clearly made for regular journeys — most likely by rail — carrying the working materials of its owner from town to town.
.
The lid is stencilled:
“MISS LOLLIE POTTER”
Research suggests that a woman of this name, the daughter of a Blackpool Alderman, was active as a touring stage performer in the late 1920s, appearing in productions such as The Yellow Mask. While this connection cannot be confirmed, the size and shallow format of the case would have been well suited to transporting folded garments, scripts, sheet music, or theatrical materials.
.
Whether used for professional samples, documents, or later adapted for life on the touring theatre circuit, the case offers a tangible glimpse into the working lives of independent women in an age of rail travel and provincial performance.
.
Today it makes a wonderful decorative and conversation piece — ideal for storage of prints, textiles, or papers, and perfect for interiors that celebrate authenticity and story.
.
Details
Date: c.1890–1910
Material: Pine with iron fittings
Original stencilled name to exterior
Hook fastening and hinges present and functional
Internal depth suitable for flat items
.
Dimensions (closed):
50 cm x 65 cm x 7 cm
.
Condition
Honest antique condition with expected wear from age and use, including surface marks, knocks, edge wear and areas of historic shrinkage to the boards. Structurally sound and full of character.
.
Objet d’Art Story
Objects like this were tools of independence — carried by professionals, travellers and performers whose work took them beyond the home and into the wider world. The survival of the owner’s name transforms this simple case into a personal relic of that journey.