Junkin’ Treasure…

This ‘treasure’ chest is on of my favorite pieces of furniture I own!  I purchased it to use as a coffee table when I was a single momma about eighteen years ago.  At that time in my life, I couldn’t afford anything new and fabulous ~ so I settled on this old trunk.  Well even when I grew up a little and was able afford something new ~ I couldn't part with it.  Not only because it’s a humbling reminder of where I’ve been, but also because over time I've realized that this is just an amazing find!

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The locks are solid and in perfect working condition!

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The leather carrying straps on both sides of the trunk are in fantastic and usable condition!

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The inside of this beautiful piece of history, has five drawers lined with vintage floral paper and still hosts the original hangers inside. 

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071There are a couple travel stickers noted on the sides which give it 070character and show that it’s traveled at least somewhere. 

 

 

 

I did a little research on it because the original trademark tag is nailed to the side, which states  “The Beals & Selkirk Trunk Co. Wayandotte. Mich.” 

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By no means do I think it has any sort of value outside of my home ~ what I have learned about the company “The Beals & Selkirk” is this… The company was founded in 1889 in Detroit before relocating to Wyandotte, Michigan a few years later. The trunks produced by Beals and Selkirk were considered to be amongst the finest of their time. These trunks were built to withstand the toughest of handling. They were reinforced with leather or metal corners, straps, bumpers. handles, hinges, and locks . After a fire and rebuild in 1902, these trunks were shipped nationwide. After the San Francisco earthquake in 1906 left thousands of people homeless, Beals and Selkirk sent 6 carloads of trunks.  By the 1920's, the Beals and Selkirk company shifted from trunks to handbags, appliance covers, and doctors' bags.

I adore this sweet ‘treasure’ chest! Today, it sits at the end of my bed in the master suite, I can promise you that it will always find a place in my home as it’s such a significant part of my past, present & future!

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To see what I am linking to this week – please check my “Cottage Links” label…xoxo, tracie

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Comments

Love it Tracie! :) ANd I love the history behind it... xoxo
Thanks for texting me the cute photos of the girls today too! ;)
I enjoyed seeing photos of the inside of your "treasure chest". Don't you wonder about who had it before you? I also have an old trunk. It came down to me from my great grandparents. Stories had it that it had been strapped onto the side of the wagon when they came to Missouri. My dad and I refinished it and it became my hope chest. That was 40 years ago. At that time we saw the inside of the lock was date stamped 1868. I think that maybe I need to tuck a written history as far back as I know it inside of my old treasure chest, hopefully it will always be "treasured" by someone.
Tracie it is beautiful and part of your lifes journey.
xx jeanetteann
I have NEVER seen a trunk like this before! The scroll-like cut of the metal and all of the tacks on the leather are stunning. And the fact that the inside is still intact is truly amazing -- I bet the makers would be proud to know it DID withstand the test of time as they intended it to.
NanaDiana said…
What a great old steamer trunk. I love it. I have an old one, too, that I am using down in the craft room for storage. I LOVE THEM! Great history behind yours. xo Diana
This is really cool, Tracie. It has a lot of history, yours included! Are you using it for anything now?

XO,
Jane
Karena said…
Tracie I can see why you love it so much. I am looking for a similar trunk to use as a coffee table and they are a small fortune!! So much meaning behind yours...

xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
Tina said…
I absolutely love vintage trunks. Surprisingly though I do not own one!

Following you on your Linky followers gadget, would love for you to follow on mine.

Have a great week.
What a fun piece to share! I love that the hangers are still there... I don't think I've ever seen one that still had them!

~Chris
I love your vintage trunk! Would love to find one of these someday!
WoW! such a wonderful trunk..I love it! I have my Grandpa's old trunk he packed in on his journey from Hawaii to the mainland by ship as a young man.
Your trunk is amazing and is indeed in perfect shape.
Have a sweet day, Elizabeth
Ann said…
Wonderful find. And what an interesting story about the maker. I've been following you via GFC and just started following via Linky.
That is true treasure! It's beautiful, or should I say handsome... that defines it much better! Definitely a keeper!
Julie
Anonymous said…
Such a precious piece to hang on to, it's gorgeous!
Amy Chalmers said…
That is a wonderful trunk Tracie. They are wonderful containers for linens and blankets~love the straps and hardware!
What a great piece and thanks for sharing it's history!
I love the old trunk. Great coffee table!
Barbara Jean said…
wonderful trunk!!
such great shape too
blessings
barbara jean
Amazing find. It's great to know the story behind your treasures. Thanks for linking up to Share the Love Wednesday Tracie!
Mary
What a fantastic piece of history! A really great find.
That is a wonderful old trunk. I would be hanging on to it too! You were lucky to find it back then. They are not easy to find I such great shape.
It's not often that you find a trunk like this, the kind with hangers and drawers, in any sort of decent shape ... you have quite a treasure. Most of the ones I see smell like moth balls or mildew, and have been neglected and abused. It's wonderful to see that yours is a valued part of the household. I have a bit of an addiction to trunks ... and mirrors, and chairs ... ;)

Connie
Your trunk is so pretty, loved finding out the history of it. Like seeing the inside of it also. I have a trunk like this, my Mom had bought, and when she passed it came to me. It is in my dressing room, I love seeing because it always remind me of her. Pieces like this could never be given away, they will always be a part of our lives. Thanks for sharing your creative inspiration at Sunday's Best Par.tay!
Honey at 2805 said…
You are so lucky to have found this treasure chest trunk! I enjoyed reading about the history of the company that made it!


Thank you for sharing this wonderful post at Potpourri Friday!

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