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xyste posted an update Monday, Jan 23, 2012, 2:01pm EST, 12 years, 3 months ago
jred - I didn't photo the trunk before starting work on it. I inheirited it from an aunt who got it from a 3rd husband (now there was a merry widow) whose grandfather came from Ireland in 1880 leaving his fiance behind with a promise to send fare as soon as he was settled. He sent for her and she arrived with this trunk packed with all her worldly belongings including some pewter spoons that I have and they were wed. He did not treat her well and she packed and using her butter and egg money she returned to Ireland. He missed her and begged her to return and promising to reform and once again sent her fare and she did come back with the trunk and never left again. How much of this is true??? We will never know.
These flat top trunks were made from about 1870 to 1910. The first were plain wood with wood slats then later covered with heavy decorated canvas which did not wear well so next was embossed tin decorated to look like the floral canvas - surprising as the tin was more expensive. Steel rosettes and corners and handle caps became more ornate as time went by. This is where the family tale/timeline may come apart as this trunk has all of the goodies including the original tiny casters.