Trunk - Is it the years or the mileage?

Or maybe both? This poor thing has clearly been used, abused, reinforced, done over, and modified time and again. The hinges are painfully clearly replacements, and the handles chosen for looks rather than utility (having just carried it down stairs, through the house, and across the yard, I’m quite sure of that).

The lock was removed at some point. The lid reinforced underneath. It was re-painted, but one can still see that there used to be circular swirls painted all over it. And it looks like someone tried to carve something on the lid.

I can’t help but wonder what it might once have looked like.

 

I wouldn't call it a trunk, but rather a chest.

 

Hard life doesn't even begin.

 

remnants of old toolbox that had a life full of adventures on building sites, a.o. jumps without net from the third floor.

 

Just a whole lot of character to me. I have trunks like that all over my house. My brother said he did not want any of my mothers stuff that looked like it came from the barn! Fine more for the rest of us. Things were just not thrown away in my grandparents days and people knew how to repair. It was a necessity. The way things are going in the world we may be back to those days.

 

This was originally a nice hand dovetailed six board chest, about mid 19th century. Probably not earlier because missing half of original hand forged iron hinge is not longer. If it still had original or even old paint on it, then it could be worth keeping, even in current condition. But only if the original paint is great.

The old paint does look like it could be good, but impossible to say without exposing some of it. If you are very lucky and the red paint could be stripped without damaging the underlying original, and the paint underneath is as good as it might be, then it might be worth trying to remove the red paint. The missing/added hardware and patch in the back would still be an issue for value, but original paint makes up for a lot of sins.

This is a big project, only worth it if the paint underneath is wonderful. It would be very expensive unless you did it yourself. Paint removal, especially paint removal without damaging underlayers is very difficult and time consuming and requires skill. If you don’t have experience and skill and lots of patience then you’ll just mess it up.

You need to give the size, in fact if you have more questions you should always give the size.