Trunks

[Noarth]

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!

[Noarth]

and the last one....

[mart]

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 ??

[Noarth]

We are from Canada...but that trunk was bought in Idaho.

[mart]

Mmmm... !!

[mart]

Did you buy them from a shop, individual or what ??  What were you told about them??

[Noarth]

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. 

[mart]

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  !!

[cogar]

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.

[mart]

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 !!

[ghopper1924]

The middle one looks like a standard 1890s camel/dome back trunk. The handles would likely have been leather,  so these may be replacements.

[valmont325]

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.

[valmont325]

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!