Doe and Hope

Description

A strong wooden trunk having straps and ribbing, with arched lid, opening to the original geometrically designed paper lined interior.

Consisting of heavy black metal mounts and studs, two handles on the sides, and three metal clasps to the front. The box has some obvious signs of use there are old scratches, and some pitting to the mounts, but it is clearly a well loved, well-travelled, versatile and essential luggage item of Victorian times.

Trunks date back to pre-medieval times and were made in a large variety of shapes and sizes and from many different materials. Round top trunks like this one were made in a wide range of sizes and coverings first in London and then spreading to the USA where they became very popular. It is believed that round top trunks were made for those who wanted their trunk packed on the top of baggage cars, rather than the bottom so that they would not be damaged.