A Mid-Victorian Painted Pine Dome-Topped Travelling Trunk c.1875-85

Origin: English
Period: Mid/Late Victorian
Provenance: Unknown
Date: c.1875-85
Depth: 20”
Width: 30.5”
Height: 25”

The wonderfully timeworn mid to late Victorian dome-topped travelling trunk in pine with a fabric canvas covering, retaining an exceptional coloured original painted finish to decorative pressed steel mounts, the whole being reinforced throughout with embossed japanned steel straps, decorative corner brackets and riveted ironwork, all centred by the original patent locking clasp bearing the impressed date “PATD MAY 11 1875”, the surviving blue green paintwork has mellowed beautifully over the last century, revealing layers of deep verdigris green beneath areas of naturally worn cream, creating an almost abstract or shagreen surface rich in texture and authenticity whilst the domed lid opens to reveal its original marbled paper-lined interior complete with fitted lidded compartment to the underside for personal effects during travel and surviving from the last quarter of the nineteenth century.

The trunk displays the honest wear expected from a life of use. The exterior possesses extensive but highly attractive surface abrasion and paint loss, resulting in a wonderfully distressed finish that could never be artificially reproduced. One original leather handle is snapped whilst the other is a later rope replacement. The interior marbled paper lining survives substantially intact, showing expected staining, losses and wear commensurate with age, while the fitted compartment remains in place. The lock is present although the key no longer accompanies the piece. The paint colour has aged into an almost Verdigris/Farrow & Ball “Card Room Green” tone and the small, concealed castors still allow the trunk to shuttle on a hard surface.

By the final quarter of the nineteenth century, trunks such as this represented the height of practical luggage for both rail and steamship travel. The rounded or dome-shaped lid was specifically designed to shed water when transported on carriage roofs or stacked aboard ships, whilst also discouraging the piling of other luggage above. Patent locking systems and decorative pressed steel fittings became increasingly sophisticated during the 1870s and 1880s as manufacturers competed to produce stronger yet lighter travelling cases capable of withstanding the rigours of long-distance travel throughout Britain, Europe and America. Today, examples such as this are prized less for their original function than for their remarkable decorative qualities. The beautifully weathered painted surface, substantial ironwork and generous proportions lend the piece tremendous presence. 

A particularly handsome survivor in this stunning ethereal colour, retaining exactly the sort of untouched character so often lost through later restoration.