Antique early 20th or late 19th century metal gold painted trunk

Antique early 20th or late 19th century Victorian metal gold painted trunk. This trunk was probably used for travelling. It would now make a great coffee table (see pictures illustration only), blanket box or toy box. Lots of age related wear. It has a lovely blue interior.

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55 cm wide

36 cm depth

36 cm tall

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Metal dome-top trunks, or "camelback" trunks, were popular from around 1850 to 1890 as travel shifted to ocean liners, and their rounded shape prevented stacking, ensuring the trunk remained on top. They were designed for durability, with metal hardware, wood slats, and embossed tin, leather, or canvas coverings protecting the contents from damage during transport. While the dome prevented them from being stacked, the shape was also practical for packing bulky items like large hats and garments.

History and evolution

Transition from flat tops: As travel changed from carriages to ocean liners, the bulkier, boxier flat-top trunks of the past gave way to the dome-top design popular until about 1890.

Purpose of the dome: The dome shape served a dual purpose:

Preventing stacking: Its design ensured that the trunk would be placed on top of other luggage during transport, a sign of status and a way to protect it from damage.

Practicality: The rounded top was ideal for packing large hats and bulky garments.

Construction and materials:

These trunks typically had a wood base, often pine, which was then covered and reinforced for protection.

Coverings included canvas, leather, or embossed tin, sometimes with decorative lithographs inside.

Reinforcement was provided by hardwood slats and numerous metal hardware pieces like straps, corners, and locks, which protected the contents.

Later developments: By the 1900s, dome-top trunks became larger and more ornate, with American companies like Stanley Works, Eagle, Corbin, and Yale providing the hardware for these new generations of trunks.