Posted 8 years ago
jscott0363
(909 items)
Hello CW friends!
I recently posted an Irish made patent leather covered wicker trunk that I’ve been working on. I finally completed the cleaning and restoration of that trunk. I’ve been working with this one, off and on, for several weeks now, but it’s been one of the most enjoyable trunk restorations I’ve done in quite a while.
I’m not sure of the age of this one. I’m guessing late 1800’s to early 1900’s. This one is Irish made (no makers label, just a green shamrock label that says "Irish Made") and the first Irish made trunk I’ve ever seen. This style of wicker trunk was generally encased in either oil cloth or patent leather. Being that this style of trunk is made of willow wicker, few have survived. Most I’ve seen were too far past the point of repair or restoration or way overpriced for my trunk restoration budget. So, I was extremely pleased when I found this jewel!
This one took a tremendous amount of cleaning and polishing of the wood slats, brass buttons, brass lock as well as cleaning and conditioning of what leather trim was remaining. The leather strap keepers were dry rotted, all straps and buckles were missing as was the leather lock protector. The stitching on the sides of the lid had mostly broken loose as well.
I fabricated new strap keepers, straps and lock protector, all based off the design that would have originally came on this trunk. I spent a lot of time stitching the trunk lid sides back together as well as stitching the newly fabricated leather lock protector and straps back on. I also replaced the belts and buckles that strap around the entire trunk. Finding leather pieces, that were long enough, was quite a task as this trunk is 88” round! Prefabricated straps only come in a maximum of 60” length. The heavy 3-ply leather handles were in pristine condition and only needed a cleaning and conditioning. As a plus, I even have the original brass barrel key that operates the brass lock just beautifully. I may get around to stitching on a new lock protector securing belt one day soon, but I'll leave it like it is for now.
The interior is completely intact except for the missing tray. Heavily stained, I sprayed down the interior with fabric cleaner and steam cleaned it with high pressure steam. But, 100 years plus of staining just wouldn’t budge. But, that’s ok. At least it’s clean and the musty smell is now gone.
I did a lot of research on this particular style and did my very best to keep this one as original looking as possible. I think it turned out well though.
Sorry for the long winded story:)
I’m very pleased to be able to add a wicker trunk to my collection. Hope you like it as much as I do.
Thanks for stopping to have a look!
Scott
Looks great Scotty, well done I love it.
Stellar restoration js -- great work on the leather replacements. Just awesome really...
greendog,
Thanks very much!! I do appreciate the fine comment.
T-man,
Thanks friend!! I do sincerely appreciate the compliment! This one had came apart in many places and had to be restitched. But, it stitched back up nicely and didn't give me too much resistance. Thanks again!
Thanks for the loves and appreciations
fortapache
greendog
trunkman
Kevin
Anna
and
Celiene
And thank you all for taking time to stop in. Always greatly appreciated!!!
Can I send you my leather LV -- it needs stitching and a whole lot more! LOL! Seriously though you have obviously tackled learning curve issues such as leather repair and so much more on your journey, so kudos to you. I have some 'learnin to do ahead of me and I do thank you and others for inspiration with these fine pieces.
Send it on down T-man:). Believe it or not, I learned how to stitch leather a couple of years ago by, of all things, watching a YouTube video. I also had to buy a few inexpensive leather tools. But, I figure If I can do, well, anyone can. Thanks for the wonderful comment and keep on posting those awesome trunks of yours!!
Beautiful job on this Scotty your work is superb.
Roy,
What a wonderful compliment. Thank you my friend!!
Thanks for the loves and appreciations
Roy
EWJ-54
Mani
Pops
and
JImam
And thank you all for stopping in. So very much appreciated!!!
You are blessed with your talent and we are blessed with you sharing it.
Thank you.!!
That is quite the accomplishment.
Wow Scott, what a wonderful job you have done......it looks absolutely amazing and you should be very proud of the results you are getting!!
Yes, you can be proud of the result of your restoration work!!!
Even more beautiful than expected from your other projects :-))
OneGoodFind,
Wow, what a wonderful compliment!! Thank you so very much and I'm always very happy to share on CW. I love showing my treasures here!
fortapache,
Thanks friend! My fingers were a bit sore from all the leather stitching, but she's solid again and won't be coming apart anyway soon. Thanks again!!
Judy,
Can't thank you enough for the wonderful compliment!! You're very kind. I think anyone who does any type of restoration is always proud to bring and object back to life again. Thank you so much!
Kyra,
Many many thanks to you! I was very pleased with the results of this one. My wife thought it belonged in the garbage when I got it, but I knew I could bring it back to life again. Thanks so very much!!!
Thanks everyone for the loves, appreciations and wonderful comments
BB2
OneGoodFind
Michael
Judy
and
Kyra
And thank you all for stopping by. I do appreciate you all!!
wow scott it sure looked like he had a very good bath.*applause*
fleafinder,
He had a very good bath, a LOT of repairs and a lot of polishing as well! Thanks so much for the comment, the love and for stopping by. Many many thanks!
Thanks Rob!
I just want them to last so another generation can enjoy these fine pieces of history as well. Thanks for the awesome comment, the appreciation and for dropping in. Many thanks to you!
Nice hit Scott finished out well . look into a product known as liquid leather it can do
wonders on basic rips and tears.
Scott, Let put it this way; you a passionate in your field, and it's reflected on the work you done and proved many time, and this one make no exception, really an awesome job here my friend. :-D
Regards
Alan
Drill,
Thanks pal! I do appreciate the fine compliment! Liquid Stitch is a staple in my shop. Been using it for several years now. It works really well, but then there are cases where items have to be stitched as well, like this one. Thanks again very much!!!
Alan,
I do truly appreciate the very fine compliment! Very much appreciated indeed! I do love my hobby and have learned from my mistakes over the years. But, they don't always turn out this well. I've had many flops in my shop, but that hasn't stopped me from keeping on keeping on:)
Thanks again my friend!
Scott
Thanks everyone for the loves and appreciations
Thomas
myoldkyhome
and
SEAN
And thank you all for dropping by. Many thanks to you all!!
Thanks Gary!!
I do truly appreciate the awesome compliment. It was alot of hard work, but very rewarding work.
Thanks everyone for the loves and appreciations
shughs
MooreAntique
leighannm
usedcarlady
toolate2
and
Gary
And thank you all so very much for dropping by. I do sincerely appreciate it!!!
My, my, my Scott what a superb job of restoration! Lucky for me I'm playing catch up on my CW posts today, so I got to see it 2 minutes after seeing the "before" pics :-)
Rick,
Thank you so very much for the wonderful compliment! I have a similar trunk in my shop, among others, that I'll be working with thru the month of December. Hopefully, I'll get to finish and post those by January. Thanks for the wonderful comment, the appreciation and for stopping by. Always appreciated!!!
Thanks very much for the loves and appreciations
Beachbum58
and
Longings
And thank you both for taking time to stop in. Many thanks to you both!
buckethead,
Thanks very much friend for the appreciation and for stopping in. Many thanks to you!
Thanks so very much for the loves
SEAN
Anna
and
JImam
And thanks you all for stopping in. Many many thanks to you all!
STUNNING PIECE BUDDY!!
Well, thank you so very much SEAN!! This one has became one of my favorites and will remain in my collection. The wicker trunks seem to be plentiful in Europe, but in the US they're fairly rare to come by. Thanks again my friend!!
Thanks very much for the appreciations
Thomas (Hope your Alabama move is going well)
and
FatBoy
And thank you guys for stopping by. Always much appreciated!!
newcombe67,
Thanks so very much for the appreciation and for taking time to stop in. Very much appreciated!!!
Mike,
Thanks very much for the appreciation and for dropping by. Many thanks to you!
Thanks very much for the loves and appreciations
egreeley1976
Chevelleman69
and
Penny
And thank you all for dropping by. Much appreciated!!
Anna,
Thanks so very much for the love and for stopping in. Always very much appreciated!!
Thanks Cindi!!
So glad that you love this one. These wicker trunks can be quite a challenge to anyone who restores them. This one certainly was:) Thanks again so very much!!
AntiqueToys,
Thanks so very much for the love and for stopping by. Many thanks to you!!!
Mary
and
Im4anythingOld
Thank you both very much for the loves and for stopping in!!
Jenni,
KSherwood,
jifyoda
and
Rosiemom,
Thank you all very much for the loves!!!