Posted 11 years ago
Vintage_Hu…
(4 items)
I found this trunk today at a yard sale, and want to know more about it. Can anyone tell me something about this? What time period it's from, and how much it might be worth?
It measures 18" L x 10" Wide x 8 3/4" tall at the tallest point.
As you can see, it has a round top.
It looks like it was once wrapped completely in leather.
It has 2 leather hinges.
It has 2 layers on the inside. One is is newspaper, and then wall paper or something over that.
2 leather straps on the inside kept it from opening completely.
Made from wood.
Thanks for taking a look. All information is appreciated.
I have seen these small trunks that have had antique dolls in them . Not sure if yours had that purpose but not uncommon to see them at doll shows . Very nice to bad the paper covering is damaged but nice find !
I'm no expert. Hopefully, Trunkman will jump in and give you more details, but I'll give it a shot. It looks like a hide-covered trunk to me. Generally, they were covered with deer skin but could have been cow. The hide was not tanned and would have the fur on it. These trunks were made in the early 1800s until about 1840. You could try to look at the newspaper inside to see if there is any kind of date on it, which would help to give a time frame. Given the smaller size, it may have been used as a document box. I'm not sure about the price. They vary in different markets. If the hide was intact, it would be worth more.
myoldkyhome has a good assessment (some were not tanned leather as you say but some were -- as is the case with this one) I would only narrow the time frame gap to 1820's to 30's. Also it is definitely a document box. The handle on the top is typical for a document box of that time period. Lovely little piece -- great find!!! I have a similar one to this without the handle on the top. I love the "tattered" original look to it.