Posted 10 years ago
hmsantique…
(52 items)
There are many misconceptions about what a Saratoga trunk is. Quite simply it is a very large trunk. It was not always a trunk with an elaborate interior (just as an elaborate interior is not always a brides trunk, but that is another story) although many did have fine interiors. There is no "Saratoga grade" trunk as some say. A Jenny Lind is not a Saratoga. Read the first 1858 article and tell me how a person could fit in a Jenny Lind. Around the early 1880's the term Saratoga got blurred by the trunk makers themselves. Many catalogs list cheap, small trunks as Saratogas. I have included a page from an 1881 (as well as another Saratoga article from 1874) catalog showing a paper covered trunk, available in a 26" size, with a sparse interior, listed as a Saratoga. It is like anything, once retailers get a hold of a term or phrase, they will use it to sell their product.
Thanks for the post. Interesting reading!
That's great! So let me get it straight Jim any large shit box is now a Saratoga .Especially if its covered in paper. The Attributes of Opulence and" the Grand" that is really what Saratoga means .Saratoga( the Slang vernacular) delineates a better quality trunk of the Victorian era.( I.E. Tooled leather, Embossed tin, Heavy ornate hardware) This now is meaningless and out the window. There is no "Saratoga Grade" that can separate The higher quality trunks Leather bound, or Brass banded. Am I to believe That Jenny Lind style Trunks were never taken on vacation to Saratoga Springs N.Y.?? Even though most were produced on the east coast During the height of the victorian period.Not sure that I would bet on that. When you use the term perpetrators Jim it kind of sounds as if you'd like to see people arrested for their crimes.
If you are to take issue with Linda Edelstein and Paul Pat Morse Trunk books/ Terminologies and assumptions don't leave them anonymous .Call them out. At least give them the respect that those authors deserve especially since they were able to bring their research together and put it into book form..Without their efforts most individuals would know little about Antique Trunks.The last thing that they are is perpetrators of myth- they tried where others did not.At least the opportunity to recant or revise.
It is O.K. Jim to have new and valuable insights with your research Just please put it in book form with a copyright so we can purchase and quote it instead.
Incidentally,I do happen to agree with their assessment of terminology -"In the northeastern states Fancy grade Jenny Linds are commonly called Saratogas" We see them listed here all the time as such.(Maybe it's just the way we roll on this coast maybe this coast is just wrong) Kind of like-- do you drink soda or pop ,drink water or a tonic ?depending on the regions vernacular slang either is correct. This is clearly what they meant. Would it help to have a" Saratoga Grading system"? As to the quality of trunks listed, it certainly wouldn't hurt.
I.E. Does it have all the bells and whistles that we collectors like to see. Or
is it another so called" Rare" Trunk that is as common as diarrhea.
And yes Jim humpbacks , camelbacks ,waterfall and monitor trunks don't really exist either .But their terminology sure does, People developed those terms to delineate shape( one from another)I.E. for a reason, Because round top just did not cut it.They are all wrong Jim, research can prove it,but guest what, they still do it,will continue too and Good luck trying to change it.
Having said all this ,I still think your one of the most knowledgable trunkers around. I do have tremendous respect for your research .Keep up the good work.
Very interesting research. I see term like "humpback" trunk used on line all the time. The purest in me says that is not right but I know exactly what type of trunk they mean. Interesting how language develops its own meaning apart from historic accuracy. Thanks Jim for the article and the in depth look at definitions. I too appreciate your knowledge.