Zinc and wood slate trunk with a Victorian lithograph print number 178

I bought this trunk back in February. The reason I bought it was because it was so unique. I love it and was wanting to make a wine bar out of it. The more I stare at it I want to know the history. How fascinating is it to understand where your trunk came from and where it began. I would really love to know all the stories this trunk has to tell. Anyway, being new to all of this, would it be bad to restore this beautiful trunk in a way and make a wonderful wine decor that shows its authentic self by being open and show the lithograaphs or should I restore it as an original closed trunk? I have done a little research and I think its zinc because magnets do not stick. The bottom part of latch says May 54, Feb 67, May 68, Nov 70. The top latch says PA star March 09. The Victorian lithograph number is 178. What should I do ? Make a piece of art or restore?