Posted 14 years ago
frenchie
(26 items)
Hi YardSaledave
check these pictures for my previous comment to you.If you notice anything else i'll check it out.
old trunk | ||
| VintageTAKER54's likes147 of 396 |  |  |
old trunk | ||
| VintageTAKER54's likes147 of 396 | | |
Posted 14 years ago
frenchie
(26 items)
Hi YardSaledave
check these pictures for my previous comment to you.If you notice anything else i'll check it out.
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this trunk has alot of features of a high end trunk
any labels or other indication that it may be french
anything else written on the lock
could the frame be wicker?
There is nothing else on the lock and the only thing written on the trunk is Mackay New Glasgow,which is the old name for the Canadian province of Nova Scotia now.
Underneath the outer shell the straps are also leather.everything is made of leather including the handles.
the inside seems to be covered in a good linen cloth, the heavy duty handles and the stiched leather corners are all indications of a top notch trunk maker. can you tell if the frame underneath may be wicker, looks like it has ribs which might indicate wicker. also the lock appears to be brass, most common trunk makers wouldnt use brass
i swear the outside looks as if someone took the travel cover of a fine trunk, like a goyard or louis vuitton and tacked it on either to cover the covering underneath or replacing it. Goyard and vuitton trunks would sometimes come with a canvas travel cover. I have a goyard that is shaped alot like your trunk and has the travel cover
I used a flashlight and saw black material underneath.I bought this trunk at an estate sale yesterday and they had it in the family for two hundred years with it also crossing the prairies of Canada and back east.The only thing that might have been added would have been the brass lock and if that was in 1900-1910 it would still be an awesome buy.($40.00)
if its 200 year old, i wouldnt have a clue, if its a top model french trunk then either way I'd say you made a nice score for 40 bucks
you might want to try trunker marvin, he has some stuff on cw, but has a informative web page http://www.thisoldtrunk.com i think
good luck finding out more
i'll watch with interest
My input is based on the historical documents, ads, labels, trunk catalogs, etc. that I've found and from several dozen similar trunks I've seen over a span of 40 years. I do not believe anything has been changed or added on this trunk. I believe the lock is original and the cover, leather, etc. as well. These trunks were made in many countries, including the U.S., England, Canada, and France. It is not just a French style and the canvas covers were original to this style. A couple trunk catalogs I have from the 1890's, as well as several earlier American trunk labels, called these Basket or Willow Trunks. They were made from the 1850's through the early 1900's. Based on the lock I would say this is an English or European made trunk, probably from the late 1880's until about 1920. Sorry but this is not a 200 year old trunk but it is still an antique and possibly about 120 to 130 years old. A similar trunk is pictured and described in an 1895 Martin Maier Trunk Co catalog (from Detroit, MI) and here is part of the description: "Basket Trunk, Made from select willows reinforced with Rattan. Covered in the best quality japanned duck canvas; corner bindings of heavy grain leather, hand stitched; fine brass lock, hickory cleat (slat) on back and on bottom. Inside lined with Irish Linen. Straps, handles, cleats and trimmings secured to basket with heavy rivets. We claim this to be the best basket trunk on the market." Many people have no idea that the largest wicker / rattan companies in the world were located near Chicago in the late 1800's and that they made most of the Victorian wicker furniture, and probably these basket trunk bodies, until the it went out of style and cheaper Asian imports were taking over. I have seen on a number of American trunks that the label will list Basket Trunks or Willow Trunks as one of the styles they made. The better trunks of all types were lined with Irish or Holland Linen. I found one old magazine article from 1906 that described trunks available for travel. It mentioned these basket trunks and said that they were usually used for packing gowns. I don't know why but that is what it said. They were made of rattan and wicker because it was cheap, lightweight, and flexible. Many American trunk companies also advertised that they made canvas covers for their trunks or could be made to order for other trunks. I hope this information helps.
Would you have any idea to it's worth?
trunker marvin is the man! He has loads of researh etc on his web page for purchase. he will probably do an appraisal for you for insurance or resale, most people charge 20-50 dollars for appraisals. not sure of his fee.
he definitly knows trunks