Images(7)

TRUNK

Dateca. 1800

OriginAmerica, New England (probably)

MediumWhite pine (?), paper, and leather

DimensionsOH: 12 3/4"; OW: 28 3/4"; OD: 16 1/2"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1978-239

DescriptionDome-lid chest of nailed construction with hinged lid, covered in block-printed wallpaper. Wallpaper has a bluish-gray background and black floral swirl designs with spray of three white flowers in center. This is similar to patterns of wallpapers made in Connecticut as well as England between 1790 and 1810. The chest is lined in book pages and New London, Connecticut and Rutland, Vermont newspapers from around 1800.

The book pages appear to be from a collected printing of the Acts of Congress with the latest visible Act dating to 1800.

Newspapers represented in the trunk:
Rutland Herald: February 29, 1796; Oct. 7, 1799; Oct. 21, 1799
Vermont and New-York Advertiser (Vergennes, VT): March 13, 1800.
The Bee (New London, CT): March 3, 1802
Middlebury Mercury: March 23, 1803

Label TextChests, boxes, and hat boxes from the very late 18th and early 19th century that were used for storage of clothing and other personal belongings were often painted or covered in wallpaper like this example. The interior of this example is lined in paper, specifically newspaper and book pages, likely to create a smooth and clean interior for the possessions it contained. Delicate textiles might catch on a rough wooden surface necessitating this interior treatment. The newspapers used in lining the interior were from Vermont and Connecticut and dated from 1796 to 1803.