(Its too big to be called a box.)
That is a full size gauntlet on the lid of the chest.
36 inches wide
13 inches tall
20 inches deep
The sides are very pale white Ash. The top and bottom are rich Black Walnut. No stains were used, just 6 coats of Poly to seal the wood and protect the finish. All boards were machine planed to .5" thickness. 45 degree corners add to the over all strength. The top and bottom are rabbet in 3/8" and inset into the "box". This strengthens the whole structure. The chest has over 600 16gage brads in it. (that's over a pound of nails!) The bottom was reinforced as it was joined into the chest. The top and bottom were joined as they were installed. This left a very rough surface with up to a 1/16th of a inch difference between panels. Using a series of hand planers and cabinet scrapers I smoothed the surface of the top and bottom. (Thank you Master Kirk for showing me how.) I caulked all the inner seams with aquarium cement and water sealed the entire interior. (The chest should be water tight and float, except at the lid seam.)
Hl Marcus, Hl Joe-Angus, Hl Hufta, Ly Alex, Ly Raissa, Pheadra, Justace all helped with many parts of the wood working. (and thanks Marcus for helping me set up this web page, I've just learning HTML)
The hardware was made by Master Richard of Wolfwood. Its blackened steel. He based the design on some 1600s box hardware that was used by a colonist to the Americas. (so it might be very period or slightly out of period.)
The Handles are large and lock at 90degrees so that they don't hurt your knuckles when carrying heavy loads. (I rate the chest at 80lbs cargo.)
The hinges come over the top and with
the brass work look like leather. Being hand made the are a
little out of true and this shows up by the lid not fitting
perfectly. (as much as a 16th out of true.)
The large brass fittings that hold the hardware on are JB Welded nut and bolt combos. The small brass are estuscheon pins that are though, cut off, and peaned.
The clasp is designed with its one
closing pin built with the clasp. (the pin is a
100+ year old square nail) If viewed critically from the
front it can be seen that the clasp is an inch off center.
(oops!) 
The cross of Calatrava was etched by 
The lining is done
in gold fabric that Countess Fionna picked out and sewed for me. (She said the pattern reminded her of some Saxon ones
she had seen. I don't do cloth, It jams the saws and doesn't dish
for a damn.) The top is one piece fitted to the lid and
the bottom is 5 panels for easier repair if needed. The fabric is
mounted using standard upholstery tacks. The falcon was sewn by
His grace Syr Valens. It is
a gold silk falcon couched on purple broadcloth. Countess Fionna
mounted/sewed it to the top for me.All in all, I'm proud of the way it turned out
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