Posted 12 years ago
blunderbuss2
(199 items)
Some friends who lived on the island of Saba, Neth. Antilles, had this trunk that I loved. I call it a Seaman's Chess. It has a piece of news paper glued on the inside from London dated 1812.
I got all the details and made a copy of it. Friends who saw it all wanted one & I got into production & sold 10. These are the only 2 pics of the original I can find.
Here again I don't see a category listed that matches this.
Wonderful trunk! You have a great eye for beauty, and your knowledge and skills are most impressive. Sorry, that sounds a bit patronizing. I don't mean it to be. It's just that you know how to do so many things!
Of course that lip is to keep water out & is a real close fit in this case. Wasn't to hard to replicate with the proper tools.
Very snug fit, obviously to keep water from entering when setting up-right.
Beautiful chest in every respect. The interior lid lip was meant primarily to keep dust out of these trunks. I would love to see a picture of your reproduction! I have the same hand forged handle on my hide covered trunk, which causes me to think that this may have been American made -- they just may have had an English newspaper on hand to line it. (pure speculation)
Trunkman, The son of the original owner of the trunk has moved to St. Maarten from Saba & has a lot of the antiques now that his father died. We are old friends(20 yrs+) & he lives on the other side of the lagoon now. He is in the States right now for a short visit. He may be willing to sell but the problem is venue & your homeland gestapo.
When he returns, I will see if he has it & take more pics.. Since CW doesn't want items that are home-made, maybe I can clip-on 1 pic. of my reproductions without upsetting anybody. OK?
Sounds great to me -- nobody is talking about buying or selling -- just showing and telling. There are a lot of features on that trunk that are on three of my older trunks, but no on any two. Ps -- I do not live in the US!
So you don't listen to all that political propaganda crap either! I didn't use the 2 key sys. on my repros. & bought solid brass handles etc.. I live around all sailors & know many old ones. They have told me the beveled lip was to keep water that splashes over things doesn't get inside. Robbie (the son) is due back ( actually last week) & was picking up some woven cane for my chairs, so will call when he arrives. I like to have somebody who loves what they collect like you do & hope any info. I come up with will be of interest to you & assistance to you. I made my repros. from assorted S.Amer. redwoods & want you to know that cutting those slats for the top & gluing in my handmade jig wasn't easy at all. The angle was so slight that it took a good eye to tell which side went up/down during assembly. I used "snake wood, angelique, ipi,etc." mixed & they looked great.
I have learned never to challenge an old sailor! I acquiesce...
Hey BB2 -- yes I would say these two are about the same in type style size and construction. Mine is covered in canvas. Cannot tell how the top was made as it is all covered, I will look a little closer and send you the dimensions tomorrow. This one must have been covered by either leather or canvas at some point -- do you know?
T-Mon asking me a question? I'm slipping into shock! To be honest, I didn't notice who posted the "VA" chest. You are looking at it, not me. What do you think? Don't know if you ever re-cover trunks with canvas, but I have a fairly large piece of cotton(I believe) canvas that I got to make "line-bags" for the flight line with. I don't know if you can get real cotton canvas on Uncle Sambo's Plantation anymore but will be up there in about 10 days & can send you some. It even has some stains & old. Don't know what gage but guess it would mic out at about .020 so might be a bit too heavy for trunks.
Hey BB2 -- I have never recovered a trunk in canvas -- usually prefer the wood to most of the drab canvas they used back in the day. To recover one would be a time consuming meticulous job. I am way to much of a hack to journey down that road. Your reproductions chests are awesome.
Thanks T-mon. Coming from you, that is a high compliment.
Love Love Love this
Thank you Aimathena
No CindB, one of my copies. I'm still trying to talk my friend out of the original. He gave me that really old castle spinning wheel because he knew I loved it, so I put on a show & do a lot of drooling when I'm around this chest. You probably think I'm kidding!
CindB, the originals corners were not put together with dovetails, but wooden pegs. I did mine the same way although I do dovetails. Trying to copy exactly. I appreciate your comments on both. Hope you have a happy & prosperous new year.
Tried to explain to the friend who inherited it, that all that drool on it has made it almost worthless & that he should give it to me so that I can try & save it before it is too late! That way, when my birth certificate expires, it would go to the Dutch museum here. Maybe I should talk to him about just donating it to them directly. I work with them & at least then I would have some control in preserving it.
I still have 1 extra of my reproductions I don't need & lost my connection for selling them.