Dan's Papers - June 22, 2007 - What's In Your Chest?

Is it really what's inside that counts? When it comes to antique trunks, the jury is still out. The allure of old trunks and chests comes from both the ornate or simple beauty of the pieces, but goes beyond the looks into the history of each piece. A few years back, my parents purchased a home dating to 1897. In its unfinished attic was a trunk filled with 60 years worth of Life magazines left by the previous owners. The issues marked the moon landing, the arms race of the 80s and decades of events that defined our nation. But the real treasure was the trunk itself. At 2 1/2 feet tall and 3 feet long it is a sizable piece of furniture and seemed like it took up too much room to simply be ornamental, but after some thought, we found the perfect place for it. A few weeks before (while updating the house) a flat screen TV had been mounted to the wall, but the living room lacked the cabinetry to house the cable, DVD and various other stereo components that come with these modern day systems. The interesting thing was, all these pieces fit neatly in the trunk. A small notch was cut in the back corner of the trunk for electrical lines and with the trunk's top closed, it look like a decorative piece of furniture, but inside, it was a multimedia extravaganza. It was neat, clean and clutter free. The bulkiness of a cabinet system was avoided and we had an interesting conversation piece to boot.

While the objects inside that trunk were of a much higher value than the trunk itself, it isn't always the case. In only a week, Sotheby's will be placing a set of three early 20th century Louis Vuitton trunks on the auction block that are expected to fetch somewhere around $3000 each.

Louis V not your thing? Don't worry. There are plenty of other styles to choose from when it comes to antique trunks. There has been a rise in interest in Americana and folk art in recent years, which has made chests and trunks much easier to acquire, but the prices have also gotten higher. There are a few things to look for when you're shopping for trunks. If you just want a nice piece for decoration or utility purposes and don't care about authenticity, just look for something that goes with the house. New trunks and chests can cost anywhere from $50 into the hundreds, but snagging one at a garage sale or thrift shop can save you a couple of bucks.

If you're looking for something a little more interesting, look for character - names, initials, or interesting linings (many older trunks are lined with varnished newsprint). It's possible to find trunks from old steamships, with the ship's name and even crewmember's names. Though I am not a large fan of it, many people seem to enjoy the idea of a travel sticker adorning their trunks. It gives an air of being a world traveler, but honestly, if you haven't been somewhere, why pretend you have?

Dome-tops from the 1880s can have that authentic treasure chest look if that's what you're after. You can go ornate or simple, leather covered, wrought iron re-enforced, and brass embossed if you like. Solid wood chests can be beautiful. Look for authentic ones with dovetailing. The only potential problem is that they weigh a ton.

If you're looking to use one for storing children's toys, be careful to avoid anything with pointed corners, hard metal locks and breakable pieces. Keep them simple and sturdy. This may sound odd, but make sure the trunk is smaller than the child. Though it puts a damper on hide-and-seek, the last thing you want is your baby to lock itself inside.

With all the options, sizes and styles finding the correct trunk just requires digging in the right places. Scour your attic, basement, antique stores and thrift shops for exactly what you're looking for. If you can't find it, there are countless sites on the Internet. Whether it's for show or storage, a great trunk can do wonders for a room. If not there, you can always go down to the beach with a shovel looking for a big X. I'll leave it up to you to decide if it's what's inside that counts.