How do I clean dry leather on these?

Brush off the loose dust with a soft bristle brush first. You want to get the grit out of the crevices around the brass tacks before applying any treatment. Rub a good quality microcrystalline wax into the hide using a clean cotton cloth. Let it sit for ten minutes before buffing it off gently. Avoid liquid leather feeds because they can loosen the ancient hide glue holding everything together.

I noticed the handles on my old leather covered chest are missing the iron loops, is it possible to get these replaced with old ones?

Finding exact matches is difficult. Eighteenth-century blacksmiths forged these parts by hand, so the dimensions of the backing plates and the curve of the loops vary wildly from one chest to another. You can sometimes source rough matches from specialist antique hardware dealers. The alternative is having a local blacksmith forge new loops to fit the surviving mounts.

What is the inside paper lining for?

The lining offered a clean barrier. Bare softwood splinters easily and resin sometimes bleeds from the knots. Pasting down heavy paper or canvas stopped the rough timber snagging delicate silk garments.

There is a very strong musty smell inside when I open the lid, what is the safest way to get rid of that damp odour?

Airing them out works best. Prop the lid open in a dry room for a few weeks to let the trapped moisture evaporate. Keep the chest away from direct radiators or sunlight while it airs. Rapid temperature changes will dry the hide out too fast and cause the surface to split. Some dealers put a bowl of dry bicarbonate of soda inside the closed chest for a week to absorb lingering odours.

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Antique Leather Chests from the 19th Century

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Antique leather chests are rigid, hide-covered boxes reinforced with brass or iron tacks, built historically to protect clothing and valuables from damp and dust during long coaching journeys and sea voyages.