By Anne Gilbert The chests and luggage that once traveled to faraway places or maybe just a nearby motel, have been a decorative item since the late 20th century. Ralph Lauren popularized using a single piece as a coffee table or stacking leather suitcases on top of each other as end tables.
Well, after all, there is a sense of mystique in owning a chest that once took sailors to sea, travelers abroad or bounced around top of a stage coach.
These days antique, vintage and reproductions come to market with high price tags. Currently an antique leather and wood sea chest, showing its age with a worn leather exterior, is up at a Sotheby’s Home auction with an estimate of $2,800. Reproductions with bright color motifs abound. This is especially true with Pennsylvania Dutch motifs and supposedly owner’s initials and an early 19th century date.
CLUES: A currently popular type of chest supposedly came from Singapore in the 19th century. It is a simple box design made of camphorwood with brass hardware. Chances are it is one of the many recently made in Taiwan or South Korea. A visit to a shop specializing in new Oriental objects could save you money. Antique travelers sea chests are still around. They were made of sturdy pine and often lined with 19th century wallpaper. If you think you’ve found an “oldie” take a sniff. There is nothing like the smell of new wood. Even when stripped an old piece retains a mild, musty smell.
Travel trunks from the early 20th century include those used by wealthy steamship travelers. Others were handmade by immigrants from many countries. Often they were passed down over generations. At the high end are the Louis Vuiton trun. If you watch the TV show “Flea Market Flips” 1920s, 30s traveling metal trunks are offered as coffee and lamp tables.
There are still treasures to be found at farm estate sales in out-of-the-way towns.
PHOTO CAPTION: Travelers’ trunk. Leather and wood with separate Compartment trays. PHOTO CREDIT: Sotheby’s Home Auction PHOTO CAPTION: Vintage metal travelers chest as coffee table PHOTO CREDIT: cangasdeoni.info
Email
Follow Us