What is this travel trunk covered in?

Discussion in 'Furniture' started by joe blowski, Nov 11, 2023.

  1. joe blowski

    joe blowski Active Member

    Greetings! I picked up this antique travel trunk for literally a few bucks and want to know what the covering is. It looks like alligator (real or fake) to me which was originally black as seen in the images. Now this material is faded to a brown.

    My question is what could this covering be and how can I preserve it? The image shows the trunk still mostly wet from a preliminary cleaning. Thanks!



    PXL_20231110_181035681.jpg
    PXL_20231110_181045618.jpg PXL_20231110_181057624.jpg
     
    joe blowski, Nov 11, 2023
    #1 + Quote Reply
    Any Jewelry and komokwa like this.
  2. Roaring20s

    Roaring20s Well-Known Member

    Last edited: Nov 11, 2023
    Roaring20s, Nov 11, 2023
    #2 + Quote Reply
    Figtree3, komokwa, Boland and 1 other person like this.
  3. verybrad

    verybrad Well-Known Member

    Some of these were embossed painted metal. Check if a magnet sticks to it. Others were compressed and embossed paper.
     
    verybrad, Nov 11, 2023
    #3 + Quote Reply
    Figtree3, Any Jewelry and Roaring20s like this.
  4. Roaring20s

    Roaring20s Well-Known Member

    Roaring20s, Nov 11, 2023
    #4 + Quote Reply
    Figtree3 likes this.
  5. Alex12

    Alex12 New Member

    Скорее всего, это окрашенная кожа, напоминающая текстуру аллигатора. Вам следует обратиться к местным специалистам по антиквариату.:bored:
     
    Alex12, Nov 15, 2023
    #5 + Quote Reply
  6. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    We're an international board.......but not ' that ' international.......:playful::playful::playful::playful::jawdrop:
     
    komokwa, Nov 15, 2023
    #6 + Quote Reply
  7. say_it_slowly

    say_it_slowly The worst prison is a closed heart

    Welcome Alex12, Google translate gave me this from Russian.

    "It is most likely dyed leather that resembles the texture of an alligator. You should contact your local antique specialists."
     
    say_it_slowly, Nov 15, 2023
    #7 + Quote Reply
  8. Sedona

    Sedona Well-Known Member

    Were you able to determine what it is?
     
    Sedona, May 12, 2024
    #8 + Quote Reply
  9. joe blowski

    joe blowski Active Member

    The textured surface is a steel alloy - a magnet sticks to it.
     
    joe blowski, May 14, 2024
    #9 + Quote Reply
    verybrad likes this.
  10. Bev aka thelmasstuff

    Bev aka thelmasstuff Colored pencil artist extraordinaire ;)

    I had one of those. My daughter 'stole' it. :)
     
    Bev aka thelmasstuff, May 14, 2024
    #10 + Quote Reply
    komokwa likes this.
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