Posted 10 years ago
trunkington
(2 items)
All I can gather are the words "degarcia" and "artiach" looks like its from the filipenes? Can anyone help?? It doesn't look like anything special so was going to lovingly restore it but probably best to check... Thanx
Looks like a neat trunk. How about a couple photos of the inside?
Bit of an odd trunk -- the style is north american with slight variations -- the locks look French -- more than likely a Spanish trunk. What would make you think Philippines?
Heres a picture of the inside and also what looks like patch up finish on the back?. I thort Philippines because of the word "artiach" is a biscuit company in the Philippines and the word "degarcia" is stamped on the hump panel on the inside, maybe the company that supplied the wood? I also thort maybe spanish? And wondered if the tin patch up was from old artiach biscuit tins? Maybe someone else in the past has fixed damage at some point? Its a mystery to me.. I used rust remover on the tin n plan to paint the tin in copper hammerd effect paint, tidy up the wood and black back to black. Apart from removing the rust its still as I found it... Thanx for your coments and knowledge.
You really don't see too many cross slat trunks with 6 slats top and front ,It is also uncommon to see the slats secured with French rivets and possibly French locks as well.I have never seen a dome top with interior tray holder pieces only in the corners.The French, British,and Belgian makers had more of these tendencies I would think. It would be great to see the way in which it is hinged at the back of the trunk as that could possibly tell you more, as well as the type of handle or it's hardware with a side view.As for stamped metal, makers would use anything that saved them money at the time I'm sure.I don't see this trunk as being mass produced, It might have come from a small maker or single Mallettier at best,Just a guess.Shame this site is limited with the picture count(annoying).Dimensions are always a nicety as well.Much luck with it.
I think you are right about the patch.... so you can discount that direction for origin. The latches on it may also be replacement ones... on the interior underside of the latches see if there are old holes that may have been for the original latches. I think others will come to shed more light... to me it looks European and the way they made those triangle inserts to hold the now missing tray would also suggest this. If the latches are original then seems highly likely to be European and I would guess French.
Well I was writing the same time as Drill was and we picked up on some similar things... too funny...
Thanx chaps n I never knew it was missing a tray. Ive got some old looking fence panels in the back garden, shouldn't be so hard to knock one up. When researching it I was thinking it was from a small company or just one that someone made themselves? Theres holes in the wood on the inside that arnt consistent. The hinge is actually just a sack like material? Theres a small part of the tin with original pattern Il post pics as a different item, that should work. The trunk definitely looks like its got a story to tell. Il post them soon.
Ive posted hinge, handle and inconsistent holes on the inside handle side. Their as a new item not sure if they shed more light? Either way I think its a really cool piece.
Not sure if 2nd item post worked?? Im useless with technology :/
Don't see it on your site... try again... you got it right the first time!
But not that useless it worked this time.
The pattern u see is the only surviving piece of it.
Do u have any idea of the age? I thought maybe 1930? The locks look modern in antique years.
The locks throw me off -- which is why I think they may not be original... the trunk body looks to be around 1900's give or take 10 years either way.... harder to date this for me because of unusual components... others on this site will know more about the locks than I....
I forgot to mention that the locks have been painted by a ham fisted brute, probably recent as paint work that bad would have got u hung back then. But still they do look to modern n the rivets may have been removed n put back with new lock? Il replace the locks when I tidy it up ive seen some more suitable one's on the web. Would be nice to bring it back to life.. I appreciate your help.
Paint remover on the locks may work just as well then they may very well match the look of the rest... "Ham fisted brute" -- now that was a good line....
The site intro says no swearing so it was the most appropriate thing to say, they also painted 1 side black panel gold aswel but yeh paint stripper sounds a good option. What would u recommend for the inside? I thort a good sanding n a good light oak wood stain?. Ive been using insense sticks with lid shut to get rid of that old book smell, its actually working the smell seems to go with the theme of the trunk shame its not permanent. Im still undecided as what to use the trunk as???
1 bar of Ivory soap in the bottom for a day or two.Kills all smells.
Thx drill il keep an eye out for some.. the incense sticks work to an extent n the smell goes with its looks at the moment but the old book smell just comes back.