mercredi 29 mai 2013

What To Know About Antique Trunks

By Frances Keith


There are several things to consider when buying antique trunks. These crates come in many different types and are from various locations and time periods. Learning the history of your trunk can be an enjoyable experience for everyone involved. These boxes can also prove to be hidden treasures that are worth more than you originally thought.

We have been using trunks for more than a millennium. No one really knows who made the first one or why. All we know is that have become a popular possession in just about every country in the world. Originally, they were used exclusively for traveling. People would pack them full of the things they wanted to take with them on journeys. They made great carrying cases for those needing a place to store things while on a trip.

In more recent times, crates have become pieces of furniture. They sit right beside coffee tables and lamp stands. Most people use them to store things are not used that often. They look great and help liven up any room. Some people put them on display even there is nothing inside them.

When people think of antique boxes, the type that comes to mind most frequently is the steamer trunk. This is an older trunk from the 17th and 18th centuries. It was widely used on steamships that brought people to the New World. It is low and wide and easily fits under the bed. It is not the only type of truck but it is the one most commonly associated with antiques.

Early containers are marked with unique carvings and designs that identify their makers. Just like a painter's autograph, older boxes are signed with a carver's autograph. These unique markings became early forms of advertising and were used to identify crate makers. Each one had a unique style and would custom make each box instead of mass producing just one design.

The Gold Rush Trunk from the seventeenth century is a popular older box. These were leather covered boxes that were used in Europe and the Americas to carry heavy cargo over long distances. They were used primarily on stagecoaches. They were heavy crates designed for the stresses of long distance travel. Some were even used as chairs at local pubs and salons when there were more people that available seating.

Half trunks were really popular with women during the 17th and 18th centuries. They are about the size of hat boxes and are very luxurious in design. Most are covered with precious metals and jewels. Since they are smaller and well designed, they are popular among trunk collectors.

The most renown antique trunks were designed in the 1850s by Jenny Lind. While on a two year tour through America, her trunks became wildly popular. They were demanded by collectors from around the world. While all of her crates have fine leather covers, they are known for the overly adorned carvings. Many small manufacturers produced high quality replicas of Lind's boxes. It is easy to mistake an original for on of these replicas. But with a trained eye and a little luck, you might be able to find one.




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