Folks, this is it! The restored antique trunk you have been waiting for. Those of you who know and follow antique trunks and have been searching for that "Special One", this sought after Martin Maeir could be it!

The 120-130 year old seasoned and cured pine planks and oak wood slats are stunning in their alternating rich dark and light finish on the oak slats is about as dinstictive as it's going to get! Each oak slat was hand turned and specifically fitted for each space, and not a cracked, broken, or repaired oak slat anywhere on this trunk.

Has the Original Liftout Tray with its original cardboard lids each with its own original Victorian Lithograph, with surviving cloth and leather pull tabs! Original lithograph also found on the underside of the dome top lid. All lithographs have been professionally sealed to prevent deterioration and loss of color. This liftout tray has the added feature of having dated hardware hinges (Jan 11, 1876) and stays offering the ability to be lifted up and fixed in the dome top lid so as to easily retrieve items within the bottom of the trunk!

The thin interior paper covering of the trunk (and liftout tray) was carefully removed to reveal the beautiful 120+ year old cured and seasoned pine wood. The pine wood was then treated and scrubbed with a "green" cleaning solution removing the old glue and century old grit, let dried, and then gently sanded to further reveal the pine wood grain and character.

All of the original heavy duty cast iron dated hardware (unique patented rear hinges April 29, 1879) was carefully sanded and polished taking off years of oxidation which then revealed the detailed designs, patent dates, and of course the famous Martin Maier trademarked hardware using the letter "M" perhaps making this the PERFECT TRUNK FOR SOMEONE WITH THE INITIAL "M" IN THEIR NAME!

This fully functional, solid and substantial antique trunk has the rare combination of both rarity and rugged beauty with plenty of character in its 120 to 130 year history!.

A high end trunk in its day, it was originally constructed using extra thick planked pine wood for the body over which was handcrafted and individually placed "turned and beveled" wooden oak slats over the entire trunk in an alternating dark and light pattern which was the trademark of a Martin Maier. Everything was secured using extra heavy duty square nails and patented hardware.

The 120-130 year old seasoned and cured pine planks and oak wood slats are stunning in their alternating rich dark red oak and light finish golden oak slats, and is about as dinstictive as it's going to get! Each oak slat was hand turned and specifically fitted for each space, and not a cracked, broken, or repaired oak slat anywhere on this trunk. This alternating Red and Golden Oak Slat pattern helped the traveler to easily visualize and identify which trunk was theirs.

Finally, two coats of protective spar varnish were then applied to the interior and exterior surfaces to enhance and bring forth all of the character of both pine and oak woods, and allow for another 120+ years of service! Spar varnish has UV ray protection from the sun in the event the trunk is put into a well lit room. Also has well known penetrating wood treatment properties and is actually still used to protect wood and brightwork from salt and water exposure on ships and boats at sea. When dried it leaves an an extremely hard resistive and waterproof surface while also offering great depth and dimension to the underlying surface.

Large Oak Slat Dome Top Antique Trunk - #335 RAREST of the RARE - MUSEUM QUALITY, INVESTMENT GRADE - A "Martin Maier" all Pine Body and Oak Slat Exterior with each oak slat alternating between rich dark red oak and light oak finishes. This is the MOST COMPLETE and ALL ORIGINAL 120-130 year old Martin Maier we have seen in over 9 years! Those familiar with antique trunks know just how rare this beauty is, and without a single oak slat missing, broken, or repaired! This trunk will be a show stopper and focal point in any room or decor it is put in and will only increase in value as the years pass. Manufacturer Hardware Patent Date Stamped: April 29 1879 and January 11, 1876 Original lift out tray with Original Victorian Lithographs, Original Victorian Lithograph found inside lid, all Original Hardware with the Trademarked "M" in the cast iron oak slat clamps. Original end caps with new leather handles. Working Lock but No Key

Click Photo!

Huge Dome Top Antique Trunk 35"L x 22"D x 29"H The Oak Slat Martin Maier! What else needs to be said! The distinctive alternating dark/light oak slats were each individually custom handcrafted, hand turned and beveled. These were then secured onto the pine wood body using heavy duty square nails with caps, heavy duty cast iron clamps, and wide oak straps! Each and every nail head and cast iron hardware were hand polished! Perfect for that 19th Century Home or Room Restoration! Looking for that one-of-a-kind exceptionally rare and handsomely beautiful antique trunk for your nautical decor or waterfront home? Perhaps as a military or naval retirement gift re-purposed as a shadowbox? Well this was could be it! They don't get much more rarer and sought after than this model Martin Maier trunk!

$3395. Sold!

Call To Order 540 659 6209

OPTIONAL - Trunk Wood Engraving Examples and Prices Custom Designed, Handcrafted, and Hand Lettered in Caligraphy on your Antique Chest	Click Here To Review Sample Engravings	Personalize Your 100+ Year Old Antique Trunk in Perpetuity!
Antique Trunks as a Shadow Box and Storage Chest! 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	Why just get a shadow box or a newly made trunk with no history! One of our 100+ Year Old Nautical Antique Trunks can be used for both a Shadow Box and Storage Chest for your Uniforms, Photograph Albums, and Memorabilia!

Rare 1880 to Early 1890's Photograph of Antique Trunk Factory and Workers Using Albumen Silver Print Method, Mounted to a Period Board Which Dates The Photo 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!

The Pirate's Lair Exclusive! 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.

However the truth of the matter is that the majority of these trunks were made towards the middle to end of the 19th century just at the dawning of the industrial revolution here in America when there were no child labor laws or protections. This rare photo clearly illustrates at least 3 generations of owners and workers, ages appearing to range from pre-teen/adolescent, teens/early adult, through middle to old age! 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.

Note the adolescent factory workers on top row! Note that there are no women in the photo! This is due to the fact that at that time "proper" women did not work outside of the home, certainly not in a factory. Everybody appears to look pretty stern, having on their arms crossed and "work" faces put on. Copy of Photo On Request With Every Trunk Purchase

The Pirate's Lair
Division of DataCity, Inc.
78 Canterbury Drive
Stafford, Virginia 22554
Phone: 540-659-6209
Click Here and Return to The Pirate's Lair Home Page www.thepirateslair.com
"Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business"
Or
Email the-pirate@thepirateslair.com



Or Click HERE to return to The Pirate's Lair Home Page and Gangplank!

All Original Martin Maier Restored Antique Trunk For Sale