19th Cent. Victorian Collar Box w Original Collar

C-18839 Cloth-covered collar box of rounded rectangular form, constructed with rigid boards and finished in a burgundy-toned textured covering. The hinged lid is embossed with decorative lettering, and the box is fitted with its original ornate brass clasp hardware. Interior is lined in pale fabric and retains a fitted cylindrical insert designed to store and protect a detachable men's collar, which remains present inside the box. Boxes of this type were used to store starched detachable collars, a standard element of men's dress in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The shaped interior insert prevented deformation while keeping collars clean and ready for wear. Shows minor surface wear consistent with age, including scuffing and abrasion to the exterior covering. The clasp is bro...