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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: Noarth on February 10, 2013, 10:15:34 pm

Title: Trunks
Post by: Noarth on February 10, 2013, 10:15:34 pm
Hi all!  My sister has acquired some trunks and we were hoping you could help us in trying to identify age/value/origins if possible.  Thanks!
Title: Re: Trunks
Post by: Noarth on February 10, 2013, 10:17:04 pm
and the last one....
Title: Re: Trunks
Post by: mart on February 11, 2013, 08:35:25 am
On the last trunk,, can you take a close up of the handle area on the front ?? Also are you in the Germanic region by any chance ??  If not,, where are you located ??
Title: Re: Trunks
Post by: Noarth on February 11, 2013, 10:30:54 am
We are from Canada...but that trunk was bought in Idaho.
Title: Re: Trunks
Post by: mart on February 11, 2013, 11:19:43 am
Mmmm... !!
Title: Re: Trunks
Post by: mart on February 11, 2013, 11:42:02 am
Did you buy them from a shop, individual or what ??  What were you told about them??
Title: Re: Trunks
Post by: Noarth on February 11, 2013, 11:55:16 am
all were bought individually... 1st one was bought from a 100 yr old lady and it was her wedding trunk(possibly from England) and it's cedar lined. 2nd one was in a garage sale here in southern BC Canada. last one we were told was military and made of walnut. 
Title: Re: Trunks
Post by: mart on February 12, 2013, 03:06:32 pm
Well,, I can tell you that the bottom trunk is not military !!  The do call them military style because of the flat top and smaller size !!  Military would not have those small dovetails !!  They would be butt jointed  !!
Title: Re: Trunks
Post by: cogar on February 13, 2013, 02:19:05 am
I like the looks of the small one, 3rd picture, because it has the looks of being 18th to 19th century with its 6-board construction, dovetails, etc., ……. but it just looks too new.

The wood on the inside looks “fresh” with no patina due to aging and one can see the varnish “drippies” on the inside of the lid.
Title: Re: Trunks
Post by: mart on February 13, 2013, 07:36:09 am
I agree Cogar !!  It has been refinished !!  In fact,,all of them show little age on wood !!  Top one has dome head screws and appears to be butt jointed !!  Not at all what you would expect from 100 year old English trunk !!  Bottom trunk is more likely English !!
Title: Re: Trunks
Post by: ghopper1924 on February 13, 2013, 07:47:25 am
The middle one looks like a standard 1890s camel/dome back trunk. The handles would likely have been leather,  so these may be replacements.
Title: Re: Trunks
Post by: valmont325 on February 14, 2013, 09:52:13 am
5th Photo(i think)  Is a camphor wood trunk. Or at least what i believe to be. I have on in shop right now in front of me.

Mine has been lifted up ontop of custom iron legs so it makes a better coffee table. Usualy with trunks you can date them by the slabs of wood. As with mine, it has one solid piece of wood on the top.  Caphor wood chests were mainly used for chinese exporting. Mine dates late 19th Century.
Title: Re: Trunks
Post by: valmont325 on February 14, 2013, 09:59:06 am
Saw a similar camphorwood trunk on Christies go for $3,000+   in great condition.   I have $1250 on mine because id rather sell it then have it take up space. Either way...Great Trunk!