Steamer Trunks (History of)
Steamer Trunks (History of)
A trunk, also known as a traveling chest, is a large cuboid container for holding clothes and other personal belongings, typically about 1.5 meters wide, and 0.5 meters each deep and high, or about 25" to 40" wide, 14" to 28" high, and 14" to 24" deep. They were most commonly used for extended periods away from home, such as for boarding school, or long trips abroad. Most trunks are now used as either furniture such as glass-covered coffee tables or decorative storage for everything from blankets and linens to memorabilia and military paraphernalia. Trunks are differentiated from chests by their more rugged construction due to their intended use as luggage, instead of the latter's pure storage.
Although trunks have been around for thousands of years in China and elsewhere, the most common styles seen and referred to today date from the late 18th Century to the early 20th, when they were supplanted in the market by the cheaper and lighter suitcase.
Among the many styles of trunks there are Jenny Linds, Saratogas, Monitors, Steamers, (or Flat-tops) Barrel-Staves, Bevel-tops, Wardrobes, Dome-tops, Barrell-tops, Wall Trunks, and even full Dresser trunks. These differing styles oftentimes only lasted for a decade or two as well, and - along with the hardware - can be extremely helpful in dating an unmarked trunk.
Trunks were generally constructed with a base trunk box made of pine, which was then covered with protective and decorative materials. Some of the earliest trunks are covered with studded hide or leather and look much like the furniture of the same period (which makes sense as trunk manufacturing was sometimes an off-shoot of a furniture business.) Later coverings include paper, canvas, plain or embossed tin, with an uncounted assortment of hardware and hardwood slats to keep it all down. One of the rarest examples is a complete outer covering in matched oak slats, oak slat trunks, generally ascribed to the Excelsior or Clinton Trunk Cos., which have been known to commonly fetch more than $2,500 if completely original and intact, or over half that if restored. (This is as opposed to the standard range of $100-$200 for a median-grade, un-restored dome-top, and up to $1,000 for the finest surviving examples of all-original trunks.)
Trunk Styles and Manufacturers
Jenny Lind Trunks have a distinctive hourglass or keyhole shape when viewed from the side. They were named after the Swedish singer of the same name (and figure) who toured America in the mid 19th Century along with PT Barnum. In fact, she was well known to carry a trunk of this style with her while on the road, and they became quite popular even though they were only made for a relatively short period of time (1855-1865.)
 19thc Jenny Lind Stage Coach Dowry Trunk  US $399.00
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 19th C ANTIQUE JENNY LIND STAGE COACH SARATOGA TRUNK US $365.00
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 Antique Jenny Lind Trunk with Brass Buttons GORGEOUS US $299.00
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Saratoga trunks were the premium trunks of many makers (or the exclusive design of many premium trunk makers) and actually can encompass nearly every other style of trunk manufactured if loosely defined, although generally they are limited to before the 1880s. The most readily recognizable feature of Saratoga’s is their myriad (and generally very complex) compartments, trays, and heavy-duty hardware.
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19th C ANTIQUE JENNY LIND STAGE COACH SARATOGA TRUNK US $365.00
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 Antique 1890s Saratoga Camelback Metal Embossed Dogwood Trunk with Wood Slats US $149.99
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Monitor-tops (incorrectly known as water-fall trunks from the furniture) date from the late 1870s to the late 1910s, and are characterized by their rounded front and rear corners to form a lying-down "D" when viewed from the side. Earlier examples usually included labor-intensive hardwood slats that were curved with the top, while there was a revival much later with rare, all-metal ones being constructed.
Steamer trunks, which are sometimes referred to as Flat-Tops, first appeared in the late 1870s, although the greater bulk of them date from the 1880-1920 period. They are distinguished by either their flat or slightly curved tops and were usually covered in canvas, leather or patterned paper.
Barrel-Staves are sometimes referred to as a form of Dome-top trunk, but generally date from a decade or earlier and are notable for having horizontal slats instead of vertical, giving it a distinctive look and construction. These were generally made from the late 1870s to the mid-1880s.
Bevel-tops are separated into an early and a late (or revival) period, the former generally dating from the 1870-1880 period, and the latter from 1890-1900. They are characterized by a distinct trapezoidal shape when viewed from the side, although the earlier period tended to have a much shorter flattened top section than the later did. These tend to be extremely rare, although are not as popular or sought-after as many of the other varieties.
Wardrobe trunks generally must be stood on end to be opened and have drawers on one side and hangers for clothes on the other. Many of the better wardrobe lines also included buckles/tie-downs for shoes, removable suitcases/briefcases, privacy curtains, mirrors, make-up boxes, and just about anything else imaginable. These are normally very large and heavy as they were used for extended travel by ship or train.
A Dome-top trunk has a high, curved top that can rise up to heights of 25-30". A variety of construction methods - including curfing, molded ply, barrel construction, and so forth - were used to form the inner boxes. Included in this classification are Camel-backs which are distinguished by having a central, vertically-running top slat that is higher than its fellows, Hunch-backs or Hump-backs which is the same but has no slat in the center of the top, and Barrel-tops (not to be confused with Barrel-staves) which have high arching slats that are all the height. (To tell you should be able to lay a ruler flat across the tops of the slats.) These trunks date from 1870s-1900s, although there are a few shops still manufacturing them today. They are not only the most commonly trunks referred to as antique, but also are among the most popular.
Wall trunks are made with special hinges so that when opened the trunk could still be put flat up against a wall. The two main manufacturers include Clinton and Miller, which can be easily noted by the name on the hinges. In good condition these are comparatively sought-after trunks for a specialty type, although are in the middling range when it comes to price.
 Antique Tramp Art Furniture Signed 1896 US $1,299.99
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 ANTIQUE C 1790 BOX ZECHARIAH MILLS HARTFORD CT WALLPAPER MAKER W ORIGINAL LABEL US $500.00
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Dresser trunks also known as Pyramidal trunks due to their shape, are an unique form of wall-trunk that generally date from the 1900-1910 era. A lid that opens up nearly the entire front half of the trunk, allowing it to rest on the bottom, characterizes them. Extremely large and rare in good condition with all of their drawers/lids/trays/etc, these trunks have been known to fetch high prices when fully restored.
Some of the better-known trunk makers are Louis Vuitton, Goyard, Haskell Brothers, MM Secor, Leatheroid, Clinton, Hartmann, Oshkosh, Molloy, Truesdale, and Taylor. Other rare and fine Malletiers still in existence including Ephtee, "Malitier a Bordeaux" and La Malle Bernard. One of the largest American manufacturers of trunks at one point - Seward Trunk Co. of Petersburg, Virginia- still makes them for school and camp, and another company - Shwayder Trunk Company of Denver, Colorado- would eventually change its name and become Samsonite.
Related Link: Steamer Trunks: Anatomy of
