Posted 10 years ago
hjohnsonca
(1 item)
This trunk was given to me by my dad, it was given to him by a friend who owned an antique store about 25 or so years ago in Southern California. We know nothing about it. The hardware and the nails used make it look very old. I also have the key and the lock works. There are no dates or names stamped in the hardware or anywhere on the trunk. Unfortunately, I'm not sure of what the wood is either. Anyone know anything about it's possible origin or maker?
From the way it is made I would say it is after 1940's. To be brief, the four sides were cut, jointed and assembled. (sometimes the bottom was in at that point for stability. So now you have a box without a lid that opens. Then you set your saw to cut half way of a dovetail and run all four sides through the saw so the joint is cut exact all the way around. The joints on all corners should be cut in the same place and this one looks well done. Then hardware (hinges etc.) and any additions to it are added. I believe the hardware I can see is way older than the actual trunk. The manner this was cut says to me after 1940's and probably made by a local craftsman who was taught the proper (at that time) manner to do the job. I can't bring the pictures in close but I would venture to say this is redwood or fir that someone has stripped below the patina.
Thank you very much for your input! Any idea of maybe the region it may have been from? Most appreciated!
It is a very lovely piece -- I thought the same as fhjr2 (being a more recent piece) but he was much more in depth as to the reasons for its age. The hardware on it is great -- love it.
If the wood is actually redwood or fir I would make a wild guess at it being made on the west coast. I say that because of the width of the pieces used to build it. I am finishing the master bedroom of our home with vertical grain redwood and finding it on this coast is next to impossible because of shipping and demand. I am trimming out each room with a different type wood and some are just not in demand to the extent they get shipped east if they don't grow here. The piece you are showing has been stripped to a point that kills any value even if it has a new finish applied. The patina is gone forever and only age will bring it back. If the piece was mine I would coat one side at a time with turpentine then set it on fire and rub the fire out with fine steel wool. Then I would mist it with water and set it out in the sun. Another steel wool rub then a thin coat of boiled linseed oil (not raw linseed oil). More hand rub with the wool after a day or three. It is a fake patina but none the less a patina.