The exterior was originally covered in a thick hand tooled leather indicating that this was made for the high end market back in the day. During the restoration this leather covering needed to be removed thereby revealing 100+ year old seasoned pine wood! The exterior oak wood slats were covered with a protective black japanning which was also removed and again revealing beautifully cured hard oak wood. Once the outside coverings were removed it revealed large swirl impressions left in the wood which was from the the blade of the very first saw at the sawmill!
Also, all of the hardware was covered in a thick black japanning along with a century of grit and oxidation all of which was carefully removed, large buttons were polished to original silvery look and the rest of the hardware was carefully blackened to original state.
The interior of the trunk along with the original liftout tray were covered in a thin protective paper which was removed during restoration and again revealing the beautiful ruggedly handsome aged pine boards. We were able to save the Victorian Lithographs and Designs under the lid which are quite unique. The large middle lithograph depicts a scene with a reclining adult sheep with baby sheep spread around her, and above on an outcropping of rock are two half sleeping dogs protecting them.
The two Lithographs to either side of the middle one are the same and depict a 19th century porter carrying a trunk on his back with an open lid and the contents falling out along with another individual looking quite distressed at what he is seeing.
Once the external and internal coverings were removed and Lithograph safely sealed the entire trunk was scrubbed with a cleanser, dried, and then hand sanded to help further bring out the character and grain of the woods. Finally two coats of protective spar varnish was applied inside and out. New leather handles and end caps were installed.
Another fantasitc 19th Century fully restored antique trunk for sale! Both the exterior tooled leather and the interior paper coverings were removed revealing beautiful and ruggedly handsome 100+ year old cured and seasoned pine planks and oak wood slats. Fortunately the thin paper covering and Victorian Lithographs were able to be saved under the lid and are quite unique and unusual, very detailed. The trunk had the original liftout tray which was also saved during the restoration. The entire trunk was scubbed, dried and lightly sanded with a coat of spar varnish applied. The fantastic Victorian Lithographs found under the lid were professionally sealed for another 100+ years of viewing! These Lithographs are a MUST SEE! Has a working lock but no key. |
Click Photo! |
30"L x 16"D x 19.5"H This is a fantastic trunk which could easily be made into a military or navy retirement shadow box! It is a handsome trunk yet beautifully rugged with lots of character to the wood and hardware as can be seen. The Victorian Lithographs under the lid are one-of-a-kind. |
Sold! |
540 659 6209 |
Custom Designed, Handcrafted, and Hand Lettered in Caligraphy on your Antique Chest |
Click Here To Review Sample Engravings |
|
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 |
|
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 |