Featured Dome Trunk

I just bought this in Maine.

I have found similar examples online listed by sellers as 1750 and 1850. I would really like to get a better idea of when it’s made!

It’s made of all solid wood (no planks of wood joined together). The curved top is one solid piece. The bottoms and sides are each 1 solid piece.

The nails are “rectangle”.

The lock is held in place with modern screws and may not be original to the trunk (see photo).

It was once painted red (see photo).

There are no handles! There have never been - wood is smooth on sides, no holes.

It’s in far from perfect condition but I love it.

 

Oops! Left out the nail photo!

 

what size...........unfinished like that may be a tool chest..

 

Neat piece. I'd guess closer to 1850 than 1750; thinking German immigrant trunk.

 

Thank you. The similar ones I had seen were listed as German immigrant trunks.

 

I don’t have it on hand now but it’s large. I will measure it tomorrow and post back.

I thought the dome tops were for trunks for travel?

 

they are....but not written in stone..!

 

Nice trunk. I like the simplicity of it

 

Good, heavy, solid, utilitarian simplicity. I bet it looked spiffy before all the red paint wore off though! What a beauty.

I bet it was a struggle lugging that thing around without handles though!

 

Could also be Scandinavian.

 

Thank you! I do see some similar ones!

 

I have a domed trunk as well that I refinished. When I got it there was a picture they had put on the top with a layer of shellac. It is one of my favorite pieces. Someone had found some information on it for me and I will see if I can find it for you. Mine is different as it does have handles. Enjoy.

 

Thank you for sharing this!

May I ask how you refinished it? I love that yours still looks old. Sometimes they are so stripped down they look almost new.

 

This is a series of pictures for the restore. I really wished I did not have to do anything. I loved the color and the wood except for the picture on the top. I only refinished the top. I removed the image with orange strip and then denatured alcohol to really clean it up. Unfortunately the picture was glued on and when I got rid of it I ended up having to really strip the entire top. I was able to match the stain color - but I still wish I had not had to strip all the way down. I had to sand a little bit which I do not like to do. It made it a little too smooth. I roughed up the top a little so it did not look so smooth. It is one of my favorite pieces I have done - but I am still kind of new at it.

 

This is a very good article https://antiques.lovetoknow.com/about-antiques/how-clean-antique-wood-furniture-like-pro

 

Did I miss where there was a size? How long x how tall x how wide? Is it tapered from the bottom being smaller x the top at its widest width? Being from Maine there are a few chests that were used in early wagons to hold tools & other paraphernalia. Most had been coated in milk paint. Just trying to give you the best answer and information on your chest.