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AI Appraisal
Description
This is a wood, tin and canvas covered flat top steamer trunk with oak horizontal straps in very good condition. It has 4 casters on the bottom that are original to the piece and work very well. All hardware is intact and also in very good condition. The tray is missing, but the interior is well kept, I use it to store blankets. There is a black & brass tin/iron plate on the lid that references 'Barnard Brothers Makers Worcester Mass' and a round red & gold label on the inside lid measures 2 1/8 inches. On the side are the initial's J.McC. Both leather handles on the sides are complete and also in very good condition. All the wood & canvas is in very good condition, but as you can see, some of the tin parts have surface rust. It closes fine, but the copper hinge needs to be connected.
I have always loved old steamer trunks and I found this one at an auction in Bellingham MA. The Auction was ending and I had been waiting for this trunk all night. There were only a few people left and the auctioneer requested that whatever we were waiting for, we should bring it to the front and he would start the bidding at $5.00. So I went right to it in the back of the room. All the extra chairs were set up in front of it as it had been left from previous auctions. When he saw me dragging it up (That's when I discovered the casters were in good condition and actually worked) he refused to start at $5.00, but did start it at $20.00. I was determined! I wanted this trunk for storing my blankets and had the perfect place for it in the bedroom. (We had just moved into a new home with small rooms and limited storage in the bedrooms). Someone was bidding against me, but gave up at $30.00. I walked away with it for $32.50 plus buyer's fees. I'm not sure if I want to sell it. But my mentality is 'there is a price for everything and if the price was right I could be persuaded.' I would love to know the value for insurance purposes because when I checked the web, the pricing of various trunks were between $500 and $6000, depending on condition. I would also like to find out the age of this steamer trunk. any information will be appreciated.
Category
General Antiques and Collectibles
Medium
Oak, Tin, Canvas
Distinguishing marks
Barnard Brothers Worcester Mass on Top and label inside lid
Condition
Excellent
Size and dimensions of this item
34 inches long, 19 inches wide, 24 inches tall
Date Period
1890-1920
Weight
approx. 25 ponds
History
I found this at an auction in 2005 and fell in love.
eBay Auction Link
Price Paid (If known)
$37.00
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