Comfort Zone Trunk

This trunk was a project I completed recently. My sister has the charming yellow painted trunk my mother Barbara F. Humphrey (1928-2021) did back in the 1950s, and I decided since I could not “have” my mother’s, I would create my own in her memory. The one done by my mother was a “domed” trunk, a classic 19th century steamer trunk. I wanted one that had a flat top as that is more useful in a guest room. My trunk was a Marketplace find, but was painted a vivid orange.

This trunk is one of countless old “steamer trunks” left over from the turn of the 19th century – and the history of these trunks is intriguing. Ok, maybe to me and no one else but I’m writing so you’re stuck with my intrigues. Believe it or not, travel in the late 1800s and early 1900s by train or ship also had restrictions on luggage sizes. Small sized trunks were stashed under seats on trains, while larger ones were sent to the ship’s hull or carted away by porter to the storage train cars. The domed top trunks, known as camelback or barrel top, were inspired by the fancy trunks used by the curvaceous Opera performer Jenny Lind (1820-1887). Prior to her, trunks were a utilitarian item, usually rectangular, and referred to as a stagecoach trunk. There is a myth that the domed top trunks were used by wealthier travelers, because…”upper-class passengers did not like…their baggage being stacked with the lower-class passenger luggage. The manufactures started making dome topped trunks so that the baggage handlers would not stack other bags on top of theirs. Which makes sense, until you look at old photos of porter and luggage handlers loading these on ships. In the photos…most of these were stacked up on their end” meaning the trunks were sideways in the storage areas. (https://mainesteamertrunkcompany.com)

Since I loved the interior, with its curved tray and robin’s egg blue paint, I purchased the orange beast and began work. I sanded the darn thing outside in the summer, with orange dust covering my clothes and hair, though I wore a face mask. I then began painting, using a lovely antique dresser as inspiration. The dresser, with matching mirror, is in our guest room (also my sewing room), and was an estate sale find from 25 years ago. The sale was in Racine, WI, in an empty mall storefront. The contents were from the Johnson family (of Johnson Wax fame) as they emptied numerous “storage” units. I arrived to snag the lovely hand painted dresser and mirror, and ended up going back two more times, gathering other treasures, as well as yardage of amazing fabrics I shipped to my mother for her sewing projects. (The lamp on the dresser is the only piece I have from my mother-in-law Lotte Jarrett (1927-1988)). 

I am not much of an artist so painting the trunk took me a few weeks to finish to my satisfaction. This involved wiping off and redoing various attempts. Adding different colors and accents slowly. The gold used for the metal hardware was too darn shiny, so highlighted it in burgundy color. I think I managed to create a nice compliment to the dresser, and the trunk is now used to store bags – all those darn store bags you don’t want to throw away; Ziplocks from myriad sewing projects (quilters LOVE Ziplock bags); large tote bags for schlepping quilts, gifts, etc. My intention was to have a spot in the guest room for people to sit as well as plop down their luggage, and as an added bonus I now have corralled all those bags in one spot.

I love finding uses for vintage things, even when there are modern, cheaper options available. The charm of the older pieces shows through in the workmanship, and the uniqueness. Why surround yourself with boring when you can try something fun? My mother quite literally never decorated with yellow that I recall, and yet she enjoyed painting an old trunk in yellow with folk art charm back in the 1950s. Sometimes a small project lets you try things outside your comfort zone. And that is always a good idea.

Barbara F. Humphrey’s trunk dated 1958