Antique Vintage Trunk Chest Copper Over Wood Mid Size Bespoke UK 1830's
Thanks for looking
We sell loads of antique and vintage trunks, chests and cases but this one is something very different! It's an absolutely stunning trunk with some very unusual design quirks - definitely a unique one-off. If you're looking for an antique mid-sized trunk that isn't so big it'll take over your front room but big enough to be a useful, functional storage space then this is it! Over the last 200 years the copper has developed an incredible patina - it's much better in real life than in the photos!
It's was originally a wooden trunk that was customised to be much more than just that. It has an iron base and the rest is coated with a thick layer of copper - manually riveted to the main framework and reinforced with copper bands and iron side handles. It has a fleur de lys design. It's VERY heavy because of all the additional metalwork.
We can date it to at the latest the 1830's because of the materials used and the style of the riveting although, because of the design of the lid it may be much, much older. Despite the Fleur De Lys features we're pretty sure this was made in the South of England (the French Fleur De Lys design was very popular in the UK at the time).
It's obviously a bespoke piece that was made with a specific use in mind. Creating something of this quality won't have been cheap so it was almost certainly made for a member of the aristocracy or a wealthy industrialist. Because of the weight and design I 'think' it may have originally been made to carry wine bottles but it could just as easily have been used for jewelry or even gold coins! (It really is like a treasure chest). Whatever it contained was very valuable, they wouldn't have made the case so tough if it wasn't.
The size (including the oversized lid) is 20 x 14 x 14 inches
Condition
This is the best part! Despite being 200+ years old the trunk is in outstanding, fully original condition. It has been safely stored for at least 150 years in a dry attic so remains in magnificent condition. The hinges are perfect so it opens and closes just as it did 200 years ago. The base is iron so there's some surface rust there (only on the surface so doesn't affect the structural integrity). It could do with a basic clean inside. Most importantly, over the centuries the copper has developed an incredible patina. You could try to replicate this with acid on a modern piece but it wouldn't have the contrast of 200 years of natural process that this one has. It really does look incredible!
Feel free to ask any questions. This is a VERY good price for such a rare piece but it's still an expensive item. I'm happy to send additional pics or details if you need them.
Shipped within 24H tracked and signed via parcelforce (don't worry, we don't use hermes/evri who would take great delight in either destroying it immediately or 'accidentally losing' something like this which has a high resale value...)
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