Mid Victorian Mahogany Framed Ottoman

A late 19th Century Victorian antique mahogany framed ottoman, the sides and deep buttoned lifting seat re-covered in distressed blue leather. The hinges being stamped HOBBS patent. The “Hobbs” in Hobbs patent hinges refers to Alfred Charles Hobbs, an American locksmith who gained fame for his lock-picking skills, particularly at the Great Exhibition of 1851. While Hobbs is not known for inventing a specific type of hinge, his work with locks and his later establishment of a lock-making company in the UK, Hobbs, Hart & Company, influenced the development and security aspects of hinges and locking mechanisms of the time. His success in picking supposedly unpickable locks spurred improvements in lock design and indirectly impacted the design of hinges to enhance security.