Posted 6 years ago
Hanajolie
(1 item)
Just found this steamer trunk, at a thrift store for a massive bargain at $90! However, I’m unsure of its age/seems to be from the 1800’s (?) and would really appreciate any help as to what it’s made of! It has all of its original brass hardware, and all of its original leather straps (and leather handles on each side) are in usable, incredibly surprisingly good condition! The inside has a top cabinet/drawer with a lid and a few compartments, that seems to be made of almost a cardboard-ish material, covered in fabric. Under that is another partition, made of the same materials, with little lift handles on the side, lift it out and viola...steamer trunk. The outerwear is brown, and the rim around the inside of the very top of the trunk that’s always been protected by the lid when closed, looks leather-(ish), but aside from that rim, it’s major brown “material” seems like almost a fabric, or maybe an 1800’s version of particle board, covered in fabric...but how could they have made a steamer trunk out of anything like that?! It looks amazing, but I would like to restore it myself. I have searched and googled for hours and hours trying to find any other trunk similar/information about this company and have come up empty. So please...ANY HELP AND/OR info is GREATLY appreciated!
I would say more around early 1900's , look's like vulcanized fiber to me. greendog
I have a very similar trunk, but condition on mine is rather poor. Same metal fittings and style, but would look to have been a smaller version. Mine once had same interior, but long collapse. Original owner, Charlie Weiss was a great uncle who served in WWI. He went to Europe in the 1920's for a veterans conference. He took this trunk with him and it was said by family that the trunk was gone back to Europe as it had first gone their with Charlie during the war.
I wish my family piece was as well preserved as yours!