An incredibly rare and beautifully preserved mid-19th-century flat-top travel chest (stagecoach/hat trunk), serving as a pristine example of early Victorian folk-art design.
Traditionally used as a Dowry/Hope chest, it was given to young women to store linens, clothing and textiles for their future households. It may also have been used as a blanket storage box placed at the foot of a bed or along a wall to hold seasonal bedding.
The exterior showcases a striking, hand-crafted aesthetic with block-printed paper and folk stenciling featuring geometric, overlapping circular motifs in warm ochre tones against a rich, dark brown base. The trunk rests elegantly on its original turned wooden bun feet and features a central iron lock plate.
On the inside right-side is a built-in wooden box known as a till, which holds the original handwritten slip dating 1878, confirming the sale of this piece from one individual to another.
This 1878 handwritten Victorian paper receipt or account slip details a transaction involving Harriett Meakin and George Gilson.
Date: Dated February 13, 1878, with a reference to a "New Cloth box" and a date of December 25, 1878.
Content: It records a financial exchange or delivery description addressed to Miss Harriett Meakin from Geo Gilson, noted with columnar accounting lines and calculation markings.
Format: Written in traditional iron gall ink on lined ledger paper, typical of late 19th-century domestic or mercantile record-keeping.
Excellent antique condition given its age, there are natural signs of wear and scratches. The original block-printed exterior paper retains wonderful patina and colour depth with only minimal, expected age-related rub wear. The interior wallpaper is exceptionally clean, complete, and free from major staining or tearing. Structurally sound and solid.
Style: Victorian Folk Art / Papier Peinte
Period: Circa 1840–1870 (with 1878 documented account history)
Materials: Wood, block-printed paper, iron hardware
Ideal Use: Statement coffee table, end-of-bed blanket box, or interior design focal piece
Measurements: Height 54cm, Width 86cm, Depth 49cm
SHIPPING INFO
UK - Shipping costs depend on the size of your item and its destination, usually ranging from £30 - £80. We use a reliable courier to ensure timely and careful delivery.
For smaller items, we use a postal service, with fees ranging from £15 - 20 per item.
International - Please get in touch with us, and we’ll be more than happy to assist you by looking into the shipping options available.
An incredibly rare and beautifully preserved mid-19th-century flat-top travel chest (stagecoach/hat trunk), serving as a pristine example of early Victorian folk-art design.
Traditionally used as a Dowry/Hope chest, it was given to young women to store linens, clothing and textiles for their future households. It may also have been used as a blanket storage box placed at the foot of a bed or along a wall to hold seasonal bedding.
The exterior showcases a striking, hand-crafted aesthetic with block-printed paper and folk stenciling featuring geometric, overlapping circular motifs in warm ochre tones against a rich, dark brown base. The trunk rests elegantly on its original turned wooden bun feet and features a central iron lock plate.
On the inside right-side is a built-in wooden box known as a till, which holds the original handwritten slip dating 1878, confirming the sale of this piece from one individual to another.
This 1878 handwritten Victorian paper receipt or account slip details a transaction involving Harriett Meakin and George Gilson.
Date: Dated February 13, 1878, with a reference to a "New Cloth box" and a date of December 25, 1878.
Content: It records a financial exchange or delivery description addressed to Miss Harriett Meakin from Geo Gilson, noted with columnar accounting lines and calculation markings.
Format: Written in traditional iron gall ink on lined ledger paper, typical of late 19th-century domestic or mercantile record-keeping.
Excellent antique condition given its age, there are natural signs of wear and scratches. The original block-printed exterior paper retains wonderful patina and colour depth with only minimal, expected age-related rub wear. The interior wallpaper is exceptionally clean, complete, and free from major staining or tearing. Structurally sound and solid.
Style: Victorian Folk Art / Papier Peinte
Period: Circa 1840–1870 (with 1878 documented account history)
Materials: Wood, block-printed paper, iron hardware
Ideal Use: Statement coffee table, end-of-bed blanket box, or interior design focal piece
Measurements: Height 54cm, Width 86cm, Depth 49cm
SHIPPING INFO
UK - Shipping costs depend on the size of your item and its destination, usually ranging from £30 - £80. We use a reliable courier to ensure timely and careful delivery.
For smaller items, we use a postal service, with fees ranging from £15 - 20 per item.
International - Please get in touch with us, and we’ll be more than happy to assist you by looking into the shipping options available.
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