Author Topic: Picked Up Something Neat Today- Dated Sugar Crate  (Read 1759 times)

talesofthesevenseas

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Picked Up Something Neat Today- Dated Sugar Crate
« on: May 27, 2012, 01:52:49 am »
A few days ago my husband set something down on the glass coffee table just a little too hard... needless to say it was time for me to pick another coffee table. I decided to go with something rustic and unique and found this on Craigslist- It is an old sugar crate from Austria, with a date of 1888 painted on it's exterior.



The interior was lined in blue paper with this emblem. I ran a search on the name, it looks to be a sugar factory in Austria which was in business from at least the 1830's through the 1880's.



I think what I have here is a crate that was repurposed and painted, maybe to commemorate coming to the USA or a wedding?

Looking inside:



Exterior label:



Individually slotted screws on the hinges:



Forged Iron hinges:



Half mortise lock:



Exterior lock was moved:



Exterior slats on the lid with odd-sized nails.



Handles:



Iron bracing:



Although the trunk seems to pre-date the painted date, there are a lot of scuffs and scratches on the date:



The plan here is to have the glass top re-cut to make a tabletop for this chest. I'll do my best make sure hubby sets things on it ever so geeeeeeently!!
« Last Edit: May 27, 2012, 02:00:11 am by talesofthesevenseas »
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KC

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Re: Picked Up Something Neat Today- Dated Sugar Crate
« Reply #1 on: May 27, 2012, 08:27:27 am »
I REALLY REALLY REALLY like the looks of this awesome chest!

You find the neatest things!
I'm from the South - but please don't mistake my Southern Manners/Accent/Charm as a weakness!

fancypants

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Re: Picked Up Something Neat Today- Dated Sugar Crate
« Reply #2 on: May 27, 2012, 02:43:23 pm »
Cool little re-purposed sugar shipping crate , talesof !

Now you'll need a pair of these :
" Methinks me the 'mental' in sentimental .... "

talesofthesevenseas

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Re: Picked Up Something Neat Today- Dated Sugar Crate
« Reply #3 on: May 27, 2012, 10:32:08 pm »
I sure would have needed those if it still had sugar in it! As it was, I think it was a "sweet deal" even though it was empty!
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sugarcube

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Re: Picked Up Something Neat Today- Dated Sugar Crate
« Reply #4 on: May 28, 2012, 08:37:50 am »
may I be so tacky as to ask how much you paid?

How did they list it as a collectible or an antique?

I think it is beautiful

talesofthesevenseas

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Re: Picked Up Something Neat Today- Dated Sugar Crate
« Reply #5 on: May 28, 2012, 11:20:36 pm »
I paid $90. It was probably a fair price, but not a great bargain, but I liked it. I found it on Craigslist in the Antiques section. It was described badly, just as a "wood chest" and had only one photo that you couldn't see well. I probably would not have driven out to see it, but we just happened to be out in the area. In person I really like the rustic look of it, all the bumps, scuffs and flaws.
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frogpatch

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Re: Picked Up Something Neat Today- Dated Sugar Crate
« Reply #6 on: May 29, 2012, 08:05:45 am »
Awesome looking piece. I can imagine all the great Viennese pastries that were made from its contents. I'm gaining weight just just thinking about it.