Featured Looking for Any Information About This Steamer Trunk

Hey everyone!

I inherited this steamer trunk when my siblings and I were clearing out our parents' house after my dad passed. There were two steamer trunks, and family legend had it that one of them belonged to my mom's paternal grandmother, who used it to sail to the US from Germany at the age of 19 when her parents wouldn't let her marry the man she loved.

None of my siblings knew which trunk was our great-grandmother's, but I chose the smaller of the two trunks, thinking the smaller one was more likely the one referenced in the story since my great-grandmother wasn't particularly wealthy. It had been in an attic for many decades, but it's such a great story that I decided to have it restored. I'm not interested in selling it (I doubt it has much value), but I'm trying to find out anything definitive about where and maybe when it was made. My grandmother came from the state of Bavaria, so if it's a German-made trunk that would be a good indication that it was hers.

Unfortunately, I didn't find a maker's mark. Maybe the wood on the interior is paneling that’s covering it up, I don't know. I'm not going to damage the trunk by trying to find out, but the only markings I could find were some numbers on the bottom.

I'm attaching some photos. I'm hoping someone on this forum can assist in my quest for information about this heirloom.

 

Welcome!

On this site https://furnitureknowledge.com/stor...st-steamer-antique-vintage-old-sign-p27455121 they sell reprints of the image with the boy and girls (seller is also on Etsy https://www.etsy.com/listing/1268688710/antique-trunk-print-victorian). They say the original was found in a trunk dated 1885. No info regarding country.
Here's another trunk with the same image https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/wood-slatted-trunk-circa-1900-290-c-6744261968, but again, no info regarding the origin of the trunk.

 

There are so many identicals in the U.S. that come up with a Google Image search which makes me doubtful that it's of German origin. What year did your great-grandmother immigrate? And is there a patent number on the front's hardware? There should be.

Debora

 

These are the same as yours:

https://stellas-decor.myshopify.com/products/vintage-humpback-trunk

https://gowet.telecomii.sbs/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=666632

FWIW I see them described as 'immigrant trunks', so even if they were made elsewhere, they were bound to end up in North America and possibly the Antipodes.

 

Good point. Could well have come over with the large German immigration in the 1880s.

Debora

 

Nice looking trunk - the dome topped ones are aesthetically pleasing compared to the rectangular ones. Yours looks like it may have had some restoration done, or was always kept in a climate friendly local . . . no basements.

 

The identicals found on the internet all seem to be in similar condition. Surprising given their travels/age.

Debora

 

I don't know yet when my great-grandmother immigrated; I plan to subscribe to Ancestry.com in the near future to see if I can find out. I didn't see a patent number on the front's hardware. Maybe it got painted over with the restoration?

 

Yes, it was restored. And I agree, the dome-top design is nicer!

 

Try familysearch.org first. It's the web site of the Latter Day Saints and it's free to join.

https://www.familysearch.org/en/united-states/

The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation also has a database.

https://www.statueofliberty.org/discover/passenger-ship-search/

Debora

 

Wow - how in the world did you find those listings?

 

Thanks - that's very helpful!

 

Wow - I thought the decal was just something my great-grandmother randomly put on the trunk because she thought it was cute. Apparently it was common!

 

I have another question. I just joined this site, and I thought I'd get emails when people responded to my post, but I didn't. Anyone have any idea why I'm not?

 

At the top right of the page you'll see your user name, & when you mouse over it there will be a menu of items you can customize. One of them is Alert Preferences. Check to see how you're set up there.

 

I think it has come up on the site before that the domed lid prevented it from having other trunks stacked on top of it.

 

We've been having tech issues.......... you'll just have to check back in on a regular basis.....

 

It's what we do !!!!!!!
&
it's high praise to have AJ taking an interest in your fine item !!!!

 

Yes, it was seen as a benefit to have a trunk that wasn't stackable.

 

Here's what I have for my settings. I would have thought checking the first email box would indicate I wanted to receive emails from this thread.