Posted 8 years ago
aroc
(12 items)
Victorian trunk about 32" w x 28" high.
Just picked this out of an estate I bought.
Wondering if anyone would know the maker or area it may be from or any
info actually.
Thanks!
Dome Top Trunk Victorian | ||
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Posted 8 years ago
aroc
(12 items)
Victorian trunk about 32" w x 28" high.
Just picked this out of an estate I bought.
Wondering if anyone would know the maker or area it may be from or any
info actually.
Thanks!
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This looks very similar to my trunk I posted yesterday. Check it out!
Hi aroc, you have a round or dome top trunk from around 1890 to 1910 give or take a bit, it looks like it was a crystallized tin in gold which was the most common color. Without a makers label its very hard to say where it was made, I'am sure it is american made very common hardware on this one, the lock is more commonly found on flat tops at least in my opinion but trunk makers used what they had in stock so nothing surprises me. looks really solid except for the missing piece of tin in front, would be a nice trunk to refinish or just clean it and leave as is.
While the term dome top, or round top are useful in a description, the term used by trunk makers was barrel stave or barrel top trunk. It is 100% American made late 1890's-early 1900's, and is indeed a crystallized tin finish, or Zinc metal covered trunk. This is not to be confused with the pure Zinc covered trunks from the early 1870's, but rather a Zinc, or galvanized finish as opposed to the hot dipped tin finish that was very popular. However, the lock used has nothing to do with the shape of the trunk whether it be barrel, flat, octagon, etc. Any style of lock could be, and were, used on trunks of this period.
Jim
hmsantiquetrunks.com
Hey Jim, first of all let me start by saying most of what I know about trunks comes from you, your research and writings. I respect your wisdom and knowledge and the great amount of time you have spent on the research of antique trunks, thank you. I use the term round or dome because I despise the term humpback and camelback, you taught me that. I also was not implying that the lock had anything to do with a trunks shape, as I stated trunk makers used what they had available, this is the first barrel top I have seen with this type of lock, it looked strange, but that's just me. I'am still learning, and as always just when you think you know something a trunk pops up to show you, you don't. thanks again greendog.
I understand, and thank you. I may come across as being picky about what some may consider minor issues, but many people come to this site (who are not regulars) and are looking for information. So much misinformation has been recirculated for so long about trunks, and I am just trying my best to get the most correct information I can out there. Yes, humpback, and camelback trunks (two terms that were never used by makers) are two of the worst offenders that just won't go away. If people did just a small amount of research, they would discover how little any term was used to describe the shape a trunk. Today we focus on the shape, but when these were sold the focus was on what they were covered with, and the construction and accessories. This was most likely due to the fact that they were looking at a catalog, or showroom, and could already see the shape of the trunk. Today we have 10 different names for a barrel top shape when a maker would have simply called it a ladies dress trunk. (just one of many descriptions used).
In 10 years you will STILL be surprised at what you see! There is always something new out there.
Jim
hmsantiquetrunks.com
Thanks so much to the many trunk experts for the feedback
on the trunk itself as well as the info re names used to reference this
type of trunk. You've been very helpful in the past as well.
Thanks also to all the loves on this.
Looking at how people respond to this trunk and other trunks
is to me informative about how different groups of people view &
value different trunks. As an art and antiques dealer and someone
who's bought and seen many trunks but am still far from
knowledgeable about a lot of details, I judge trunks based on their
Overall aesthetic impact, form, surface, lack of clunkiness, etc.
Realizing this has very common hardware, it's still much more attractive to me
than some trunks that have more elaborately detailed hardware which seem to be
more interesting to some in the trunk collector crowd, but come across as a bit over the top for me. Different strokes. Thanks again :)
Hey aroc, please don't think that I was Implying that your trunk was unattractive, I love it. This is a C.A. Taylor cross slat design that he patented along with the hardware in 1880 and it was very commonly made style as Taylor sold his patent rights, you see a lot of this style of trunk, that's all I meant. I have a dozen or so trunks in my collection that has the very same hardware, all trunks are beautiful and deserve a second chance. greendog
http://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/pages/US986841-0.png
This is the patent for your latches.
V. Cool. Thanks Drill.
Your welcome ,Here are potential lock patents that may apply to you trunk.
much luck I love this style of trunk and thanks for the post.
http://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/pages/US663797-0.png
http://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/pages/US781621-0.png