- This antique trunk was in the back of my parents' storage barn for years - it belonged to my grandmother. When my sister and I pulled it in out in the sunshine, we could see her initials and location had been stenciled on it in beautiful old script: sma Macon, Georgia. - Milledgeville friend Susan, who sells antiques, sent me to a local man, Richard A., who could clean it up for me. I did not want to restore it to look like new, only cleaned up so that I could bring it home and it would look nice. I was bracing myself for some high figure he would charge, but he thought for a moment and said, "maybe $75?" Worked for me.
- I picked it up on Saturday afternoon to bring home to Atlanta. Richard and I realized we have something in common, his mother was a teacher at my high school and I was her student assistant for two years during my "free" period. Small world. And now, if I could just figure out where in my home to put this trunk...
17 comments:
There is just something about old trunks. You wonder where they went, in other times, and perhaps wonder where their owners would have LIKED to have gone, as well.
Sweet about the price break!
At the foot of her bed
an old trunk stood tall
in it were old memories
some big and some small
sale it for money
or keep it for love
is her grandmother
watching it from above
now in her home she wonders
where this trunk will now stay
whispers from above tells her
where my memories can play
where my memorys can play
Okay Lynn your not going to believe this but I did not type that last line below my poem. I checked and it was not in my word doc and I tryed to paste it back and it did not show up again. and memories is not spelled the way I spelled memories.
Beautiful trunk! And nice that it's flat on top so you can set things on.
$75 sounds great! Does that include fixint the leather handle fixed on the side? Or will you leave the handle as is?
xo
And my goodness -- Ellis' computer ghosts writing lines for him? Ghosts love old trunks too. What a strange and wonderful day!! :)
xo(agin)
Coffee table (with protective glass on top?)
OMG, I love it!! I've always wanted an old truck at the foot of my bed with old photos and mementos. Yours is beautiful!!
That is a gorgeous trunk!
I'm glad it came home with you. It's gorgeous. Full of tales, that trunk.
It's not exactly a piece you can neatly tuck away, but I know you'll find the perfect spot for it. And I know how much pleasure it will bring just having in around.
What a beautiful heirloom, Lynn! I'm so glad you were able to get it cleaned up enough to bring into your lovely home. So meaningful, too.
Sorry but I cannot help seeing symbols everywhere... as soon as I read your message and looked at the photo again, I thought, "Ah ha, now she is ready to fare forth in life again, her cherished memories safe and protected in this beautiful traveling trunk."
It seemed to sum up your process recently, of releasing unnecessary baggage, all while collecting and savoring old reminiscenses to treasure. I've thought of you often in the last days, Lynn. :)
What a beautiful trunk... Now you're set to "steam" around the world!
Ily wants an old truck?!?
That trunk is gorgeous, Lynn! I feel like I could just open it up and step through to Narnia or some place like that... :P
Shay -
My grandmother went off to school - she got some sort of business certificate, I think. I can must imagine all the things packed in it.
Ellis -
The trunk does hold old memories. I love the poem. And that is so astounding that that line showed up. Thank you for letting me know that - I do like to think that something mystical happened there.
Jannie -
It is a strange and wonderful day. No - I told him I just wanted the leather straps left as is. I love having it with me.
xo
lg -
I think I might put it on the other side of my bed and use it as sort of a bedside table. I have a great chinoiserie tea cart that I use on the side of the bed next to the door. The trunk will fit perfectly on the other side. Good idea about putting glass on top.
Ily -
Thank you - I love it, too. I think it will hold all the puffy comforters and blankets that are currently spilling out of my linen closet. :)
Mama Zen -
Thank you - I think so, too.
Talon -
It is already giving me pleasure. I just adore that her initials are on it, too.
Meredith -
That is so lovely that you are thinking of me. Yes - releasing baggage for sure. But I do love having these things around me. And what a lovely thought, "now she is ready to fare forth in life again, her cherished memories safe and protected in this beautiful traveling trunk." My grandmother didn't have the easiest life growing up - she was the oldest of all her brothers and sisters and ending up raising them when her mother died when she was a teenager. I'm glad she got this lovely treasure and I can only imagine how excited she was to get it.
Sage -
I would love to do that. :)
Shay -
How funny - I hadn't even noticed that. Trucks would be good, too. :)
Tony -
The lion, the witch and the wardrobe - I'll think of that every time I look at it now. What a great notion!
What a cool momento to remember your Nannie! Looks like Richard did a great job cleaning the trunk! I'd love to put memorabelia in there... I hope you find a perfect spot to enjoy it.
I actually have a small suitcase full of my gramps old treasures, like a pipe, n his russian winter hat. Just a few tidbits I saved from the dump pile to remember his unique character.
That is an awesome trunk. The only things my relatives seem to hang onto are tacky - no neat finds like yours!
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