Friday, May 31, 2013

Finding The Perfect Antique Trunks

By Frances Keith


Buying antique trunks takes some skill. There are many things you should know before you buy one. With a little luck, you can find a hidden treasure that is more valuable that imagined. Older boxes come in a variety of different types. They also come from a variety of different places and eras. The best part about buying an antique is learning its history.

Trunks date back thousands of years. It is not known where the first trunk was built but they are have become common in just about every culture. Centuries ago, the trunk was used almost exclusively as a travel item. People would use them to carry their possessions when travel across country or the sea. They were popular with with early adventures that needed a place to store possession while on a voyage.

Modern boxes have become furniture pieces along with coffee tables and end tables. They are used as additional storage for possessions that are not used frequently. They are stylish and make a great addition to just about any room. Even if there is nothing inside it, a beautiful trunk makes every room feel more comfortable.

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.

Today, artists sign their paintings with unique brush strokes. Early trunk makers would sign their boxes in a similar fashion. They would use unique carvings as a way to identify themselves as the designer and builder of the crate. These signatures and custom design work became a form of early traveling advertisements. Most early box makers created custom made crates instead of mass producing a single design like manufacturers do today.

The seventeenth century Gold Rush Trunk is a very popular collector's crate. They are rugged boxes designed to take the stresses of stage coach travel. They are able of carrying a lot of weight for an extended period of time. They are so sturdy that some people even used them as chairs. Most were carried on stagecoaches and were had a leather covering with brass studs designed to look like pieces of gold.

Small boxes called half trunks were really popular with women in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. They are still really popular with collectors. These crates were about the size of hat boxes and were designed with luxurious features. After purchase, most women had the adorned with gold and precious gems.

Some of the most popular antique trunks are those designed by Jenny Lind. Known as the Swedish Nightingale, Lind traveled to the America in 1850 for a two year tour. Her boxes became widely popular and were sought after by collectors everywhere. Most of Lind's crates were covered with leather and overly embellished designs. While some sellers mistake them for later replicas, an original Lind trunk is extremely valuable and quite a find.




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