TAA i.2.12a.1.21

                                                                                                                    (21)

Stick 50xx

This box[?] was covered with an inlay of <coloured> beetles’ 

wings. It had shrunk and become <somewhat> flattened 

and the covering was too large for the core. 

In various places, especially along one side the 

covering had split and a thick[?] black 

material looking like pitch had oozed out 

and some had fallen on to objects below 

and on to floor/<bottom> of box. It is suggested

that t/<T>his black material is leather <(i.e. raw hide)> decomposed 

by damp. No treatment.