NOTICE: Due to our extensive availability of restored antique trunks, the manner and procedures in which we restore our trunks, and our high placement in the various search engines we receive over 10 calls per day and as many emails, every day, by well intentioned people asking us to provide opinions, comments, appraisals, and/or pricing on trunks which they own themselves. As you can imagine this can be overwhelming and take up quite a bit of our time as there is no "easy" answer, especially since all of these trunks are at best similar but not exact to each other. So towards that end and trying to help without being overwhelmed while also being accurate, we can now offer written and verbal consultation, appraisal, and advice at $100. per trunk paid in advance via Paypal. If this is something you would like to take advantage of first please email us at sales@thepirateslair.com and in the Subject line put "Trunk Appraisal". Please include what you are requesting us to do and we will contact you at that time for next steps.
They did not these antique trunks much larger than this for both practical traveling purposes in the 19th century and limiting victorian-age construction techniques. The exterior of this completely refurbished dome top antique trunk was originally covered in a thick black-japanned canvas and the interior was originally Covered in a thin paper. Both coverings were removed which exposed the 100+ year old aged pine wood body that was then scrubbed in a bleach/water solution, dried, and lightly sanded to enhance the patina and character of the trunk.
The Oak Straps were also scrubbed and lightly sanded as well removing much of the original black japanning.
All of the hardware was meticulously cleaned and then polished to reveal the intricate detail of the design and to provide a silvery contrast between the aged wood and black tin sheet metal. A non-working lock and all nail heads were also cleaned and polished, again to provide a nice contrast to the rest of the trunk. Some very minor repairs were done to the trunk with one non-original hardware strap clamp being used. Huge swirl impressions left in the wood from the blade at the saw mill!
New Leather Handles and End Caps. Patent dated hardware 1877!
BUT WHAT makes this trunk SO SPECIAL besides just the huge size are the TWO ORIGINAL LIFT OUT TRAYS, HIDDEN LID COMPARTMENT TRAY, AND THE VICTORIAN LITHOGRAPHS! The photos speak for themselves which show all of the compartments and trays both in closed and open position. Much of the original leather and cloth pull tabs are STILL in perfect condition and usable. Saved during the restoration was the
Manufacturers Label: "S.A. Hummel, Dealer in Harness, Trunks, Satchels, 320 Market St, Harrisburg" found on the lid compartment (see photo)!
Why we call this the "Alien" trunk is from the victorian lithograph found on the inside right lid which shows a unique pastoral, whimsical and fantasy scene of a river and green plantlife with a "creature" standing on the shoreline watching with interest a sailboat on the water with two "creatures" sailing in it, that look like aliens! We have never ever seen another lithograph quite like this, and reminded us of a "Cirque Du Soleil" scene! We took some closeups of this.
There is a second lithograph on the top of the door covering the left side of the lift out tray of a whimsical young boy playing an oboe type flute and daydreaming.
Note the fantastic patina and character of the pine body and oak straps with polished contrasting hardware!
This trunk would be a focal point in any room, and certainly a featured statement piece in a foyer.
This is an absolutely stunning and impressive trunk from almost any perspective. This will show well in a small room or cramped space.
Shows the lid open revealing the original victorian lithographs, the hidden lid compartment in closed position, and the top lift out tray.
The hidden lid compartment tray is now in the down and open position - very unique high-end construction, first we have seen like this.
Note that the second bottom tray STILL has all of the original cloth criss-cross strips. This is where the women kept their expansive victorian dresses so as not to wrinkle them as well as allowing the traveler could reach through and find something at the bottom of the trunk below this tray!
Showing the polished silvery look and design of the oak strap securing hardware against the black tin and oak wood.
Note the huge swirl impressions left in the wood from the saw mill blade.
Top lift out tray - long full length rear compartment used for umbrellas, parasols, canes.
Top lift out tray main compartment, lid opened. Plenty of storage room here for everyday needed items.
rear of the trunk... beautiful wood patina, lots of character.
Whimsical victorian lithograph with "alien creatures" - two ant-like creatures in the sailboat and a katydid or locust type creature standing on the shore watching!!
Note the closeup - ant-like insect creatures in the sail boat and a katydid type insect creature standing on the shore.
Here you will see the young man or boy sitting on a rock in a whimsical manner staring back at you dressed in a quasi-sailors outfit (white shirt/jumper), note the flute oboe like instrument he is holding.
Above are saved remnants of the heavy canvas exterior covering with the original owners stenciled initials "B.S." - Previously owned by a sailor or teller of Sea Stories about insect-like alien creatures seen sailing boats and standing ashore?!!
Above is the Trunk Maker Label which reads: "S.A. Hummel, Dealer in Harness, Trunks, Satchels 320 Market St, Harrisburg"
Click Here to View "Before" Photos of this super trunk halfway thru the restoration processNOTICE: Due to our extensive availability of restored antique trunks, the manner and procedures in which we restore our trunks, and our high placement in the various search engines we receive over 10 calls per day and as many emails, every day, by well intentioned people asking us to provide opinions, comments, appraisals, and/or pricing on trunks which they own themselves. As you can imagine this can be overwhelming and take up quite a bit of our time as there is no "easy" answer, especially since all of these trunks are at best similar but not exact to each other.
So towards that end and trying to help without being overwhelmed while also being accurate, we can now offer written and verbal consultation, appraisal, and advice at $100. per trunk paid in advance via Paypal. If this is something you would like to take advantage of first please email us at sales@thepirateslair.com and in the Subject line put "Trunk Appraisal". Please include what you are requesting us to do and we will contact you at that time for next steps.
| All Wood Dome Top Antique Trunk is HUGE, Rarely Ever Made any Larger, Only Find 1 or 2 Per Year! All Pine wood body has a fantastic patina and wood grain having lots of character in 100s of shades of dark reds, golden yellows, and browns. Huge swirl impressions left in the wood from the saw blade at the cutting mill! Two original liftout trays with working covers and lithographs, hidden lid pull down storage compartment. Polished Non working lock. Securing hardware patent dated 1877 was polished to show the detailed design and provide a silvery contrast to the darker tin sheet metal and wooden oak straps. Front latches work well and were polished as well. "S.A. Hummel, Dealer in Harness, Trunks, Satchels, 320 Market St, Harrisburg" |
 Click Photo! |
Beautifully refurbished all wood antique trunk with lots of character found on both the wood and hardware, keeping many of the original features in excellent condition. This is a trunk for the serious antique collector, an interior designer looking for that special "statement piece" for a large room or home, as a planned family heirloom to be passed onto future generations, military or naval retirement gift to store and display 20 years of service memorabilia, . |
UPS Insured Ground Shipping: $200. East of the Mississippi, $275. West of the Mississippi. Local Pickup Available 5% Sales Tax Will Apply. |
540 659 6209 |
| Custom Designed, Handcrafted, and Hand Lettered in Caligraphy on your Antique Chest |
 Click Here To Review Sample Engravings |
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| Customer Photographic Examples of our Antique Trunks Being used as a Military or Naval Retirement Shadow Box and Storage Chest!! |
 Click Here for Sample Shadow Box Photographs From Customers |
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| Note the Flatop and Two Monitor or Waterfall Trunks, Each Being Individually Unique at the Very Time of Production. |
 Click Photo For Larger View and More Historical Information! |
We all romanticize about the mystique of these antique trunks. The possible owners and travels that each steamer trunk has taken, along with the high level of detailed craftsmanship in the original production of each and every steamer trunk with that individualized character giving both intrinsic and non-intrinsic value. |
It was a common practice that loyal and productive craftsmen would be allowed to bring their children to work with them to learn a craft, so many of the children in this photograph were more than likely sons of the men shown. |
Copy of Photo On Request With Every Trunk Purchase |
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