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History
& Styles
Over the past thirty years, I
have searched for more information on the history of trunks and
for accurate information about trunk styles. From a variety of
sources and from hours of research, I have obtained a number of
historical documents which have answered many questions and
provided an excellent true source of information on trunks.
These include newspapers, trunk maker's catalogs, letterhead and
invoices, business cards, books, articles, and of course trunk
labels and trunks. On the Research page I am offering copies of
a few of these interesting and unique items for sale.
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| Trunks were made in a large
variety of shapes and sizes and from many materials and date
back to pre-medieval times. Here is a very brief summary of a
few of the trunk styles made in the United States. |
| The earliest trunks made in
America were rather primitive and date to the late 1600s. They
were made of various woods and covered with hides such as deer,
horse or cowhide. In the 1700s the hide covered trunks continued
and became a little more ornamented with handmade brass tacks,
forged iron locks and handles and leather trim. These were made
in flat top and rounded top styles. In the late 1700s and early
1800s round trunks became popular. Looking at them from the end
they appear round, with a small flat base. They were covered in
leather and hide and usually ornamented with brass tacks. They
were lined with a printed paper or often old newspapers. They
sometimes were made with a small brass handle on top and were
made in many sizes. A couple nice examples are at Mount Vernon,
owned by George and Martha Washington. |
| In the late 1840s and
1850s leather covered trunks were popular with iron bands and
large brass "studs" or "buttons". Some
people referred to these as "gold rush trunks" with
the large brass studs symbolizing large gold nuggets. |
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people moved westward and railroads were built, the
demand for trunks increased. Both flat and round top
trunks were being made during the mid 1800s. Small
square shaped "half trunks" were also made of
the same style with brass trimmings. In 1850, Jenny
Lind, "the Swedish Nightingale" came to
America and had a two year concert tour. She had trunks
which were made in London which were soon copied by
trunk makers all over America, which we now refer to as
Jenny Lind trunks. They were leather covered, with
several iron bands around the trunk, fastened with large
brass studs, and they curved in at the center. Some people say they look like a loaf of
bread or figure eight. These trunks
were often very decorative with brass locks, fancy tooled
leather and elaborate interiors with paper lining and trimmings.
Models made with brass banding are referred to as "brass
bound" Jenny Linds. They were so popular that the style
continued until the 1870s in many sizes and varieties, including
doll trunks. Some also refer to these trunks as
"stagecoach" trunks as they were also used for
stagecoach travel. |
Jenny Lind
circa 1860 |
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Saratoga Trunk
circa 1880 |
In the late 1870s a large
fancy round top trunk became popular, because it was used by the
wealthier people visiting the spas and racetrack at Saratoga
Springs, New York. The Saratoga Trunk was a very large, domed
top style with fancy trim, covered in either leather or metal.
Early trunk catalogs and ads describe Saratoga trunks as a
"large round top of the highest class". Round top
trunks (also called humpback, camelback, monitor top,
and barrel top) were made in a wide range of sizes and
coverings. It is believed that the round tops were made
for those who wanted to try to have their trunk packed
on the top of baggage cars, so they would not be
damaged. |
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| In the late 1800s another
trunk style developed for steamship travel, called the Steamer
trunk, which was a low, flat top trunk. Large trunks for clothes
and shoe storage were Wardrobe trunks, most containing hangers
and drawers. Large flat top trunks with drawers were known as
Bureau or Dresser trunks. Rare versions have been found with
round tops and with interiors resembling desks, with fold down
front sections. Small square shaped trunks were made especially
for carrying hats and many other special purpose trunks were
produced from about 1880 to the 1920s. Trunks were made for the
circus, for salesmen, musical instruments, tools, and many other
purposes.
Many of these unusual
trunks are illustrated in early catalogs, copies available for
sale on the Research page.
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Bureau Trunk circa 1870 |
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 Exceptional Jenny Lind Trunk, Ca. 1860
This fabulous Jenny Lind trunk with graceful curves, from
the 1860s period still has it's original tray and inner lid compartment
with leather pocket, over 50 large brass "buttons", brass lock,
and is in wonderful restored condition. This is a 6 band trunk,
which is rare to find, but has even more to offer, including the original
folk art paper design work on the tray and top section! (see pictures).
The brass buttons are all original and all metal trim and hardware
are original. The dark wood (color of cherry or walnut) has been carefully
refinished with a satin tung oil finish. Leather handles have been
replaced like the originals. The bottom is in excellent condition and
with the original small rollers. The interior has been relined with
nice fabric to coordinate with the folk art paper designs. The
trunk measures 27" wide by 16" tall by 16" deep. The
thick hardwood trunk has no cracks or replaced wood! The lock is
original but no key is available. The inner lid storage compartment had a
fold down door, with the original red leather keepsake pocket on it.
This is truly an exceptional and rare trunk, a real collector's item
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 Ladies Barrel Top Trunk Circa 1869
This beautiful antique trunk is circa 1869 - 1870 and has some rather rare features. This style trunk was often referred to as a Barrel Stave Top or sometimes a Saratoga Trunk and is ornate and very well made. A Saratoga trunk was basically a large, high quality, fancy round top trunk. They originally got their name from ladies needing large trunks to hold lots of clothing, hats, etc. for their extended trips to Saratoga Springs, NY, a very popular resort town from the mid 1800s and later. I know this one is from about 1869 to 1870 due to the lock and hardware style. The solid brass lock was made by Keystone Lock Works of Philadelphia and patented in 1868, and is stamped with the name and patent date. The solid brass latches and bottom corner bumpers are extremely rare and the only ones of this style that I have ever seen in over 40 years of trunk restoration. See the close up pictures of these features. The latches have a fleur-de-lis design on them and are an unusual design. Solid brass hardware on trunks is actually fairly rare to find and was only used on high grade items. Later in the mid-1890's brass plated hardware was used on trunks of many types. The trunk was originally covered with leather, which had to be removed due to the condition, but the thick wood is beautiful and in excellent condition. It is hand finished with a satin tung oil varnish which will preserve the trunk for another 100 years at least. The trunk is made of thick pine with hardwood, probably elm, outer slats. The hardware is all original and very strong. The handles are thick multi-layer custom made handles in the early style. The interior was carefully cleaned out and relined with a nice old fashion toile fabric. The lift out tray was made to duplicate the original style, with the covered hat compartment, complete with Victorian style chromolithograph and fancy trim. A truly beautiful and unusual trunk which is ready to hold many of your treasured belongings.
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