China Trade camphor wood trunk

China-trade camphor wood trunk. Leather and brass bound and studded with folding brass carrying handles to each side and with brass lock and key to the front. Lined with silver-patterned tea papers and bearing a small round paper label with the name of the cabinetmaker, Ashoe, and No. 5, which would have referred to the size of the box.  Ashoe was a prolific trunk and dressing case manufacturer, working out of 9 Carpenters’ Square, Canton. Carpenters’ Square and China Street, old and new, were the two principle areas frequented by Westerners in 19th century Canton. Carpenters’ Square was destroyed by fire in 1836. See Carl Crossman, ‘The China Trade’, page 245, 253 & 254. Chinese, Canton, circa 1810 - 1830