Posted 5 years ago
esegal
(12 items)
I restored this for a family friend who s 85 years old. He purchased it years ago in Arkansas and it was sitting in storage for years. All of the lithographs are from the original interior that I painstakingly lifted off and re-used. The exterior was recovered with new black leather (expensive fix!) and the front and side oak straps were replaced with straps from my salvaged trunk parts collection. I also had to repair the center hinge. The leather pouch and trim on the top inset drawer compartment are original too, as well as its latch and leather pull. The tray's lids all had to be redone, using fiberboard and canvas cloth. All of the paper lining was intentionally "aged" by using a personal mixture of tea and coffee and light Fruit-wood stain, to maintain an original aged look. The decorative paper were also intentionally aged to match. The leather handles are original, but I reinforced them with laminated belt leather. I don't like to repair/preserve or restore old trunks and make them look new. I strive and desire to preserve as much original material and patina, etc. Based on the style of original patent date on the latches and materials, I believe this trunk is from the late 1870s.