Restored Like New- My Great Grandparent's Monitor Top Trunk- 1890s- Before and After Pictures

Hello everyone, hope you all are doing well. I have just completed by latest project of 6 months, and I wanted to share it with yall to perhaps give you some ideas and insight should you encounter a project like this, and to show, that even something as rough as this is worth saving. This is my Great Grandparents blanket trunk, and later my Grandparent's trunk, from the 1890s. It's what is sometimes called a monitor top trunk, or round top trunk. It is about 130 years old, built of yellow pine, sheathed in tin, and trimmed in hardwood Ash. It is unknown exactly what company or where this trunk was built, but I do know it has always been here in North Carolina and in my home county. This was a complete restoration, and the most comprehensive restoration of an antique trunk that I have ever seen. When we removed it from the basement, the clothes that were still inside of it were soaking wet, and remained laying on the floor in a perfectly square pile! Most professional furniture restorationists would likely have said this trunk was too far gone for restoration, especially considering that these pieces are still abundant and inexpensive; usually only 100-200 dollars for a good original condition trunk, and for a rougher one, as low as 20 dollars. But, given the sentimental value, I just couldn't let it go. This restoration took at least 60-70 hours total, and a total cost of approximately $230. This trunk has been restored to a mostly factory condition, with the exception of custom paint combination, and the use of a slightly heavier gauge sheet steel on the cabinet in places, than what was originally used. But this is good, because it will hopefully ensure even greater durability than it originally had. The original paint scheme of this trunk was gloss black, with gold mottling, and wooden trim; it is a deluxe extra large model, 38 inches long and 28 inches tall. Since I wanted to make it more my own, I opted for Navy blue, with light blue center, and gold splashed patterning, with embossed 2 tone patterned metal in the front. The lid of the trunk was in decent enough condition, that I had to do little more to it than sure up some loose nails, and new paint and stain. The wooden trim is a combination of both new hardwood trim, and original 130 year old trim in various areas, both stained in such a way as to ensure that either is indistinguishable from the other. Although some furniture restorationists do not favor painting the hardware gold (typically, it would originally have been painted black, or lacquered polished plain steel, or brass plated), I felt that in this situation, given how most of the hardware is the rough original, it would be quite showy and acceptable. New fabric lining, and a rebuilt storage compartment in lid using the remains of the original. About 60% of the original material of the trunk was salvageable, and still present and in place as always. It was a real labor of love, but well worth it, and now I have a place to store my duds, in style! Thank you for reading, and should you have any questions regarding the restoration, feel free to comment or ask. Thanks!