Magician's Trunk
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
Albert G. Walker
(American, 1836 - 1902)
MakerMade by
Albert G. Walker
(American, 1836 - 1902)
Date1858
MediumWood, metal hardware, leather strap, and brown, yellow, blue, white, and black paint
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width x depth): 17 7/8 x 35 7/8 x 20in. (45.4 x 91.1 x 50.8cm)
Other (height with lid open): 34 1/2in. (87.6cm)
ClassificationsEquipment
Credit LineThe Newman S. Hungerford Museum Fund
Object number2007.4.1
DescriptionMagician's wooden trunk with a hinged lid that pivots open at the back. The trunk has a wide top and base, with a narrower section in the middle. The lid extends about one inch beyond the top section on both sides of the trunk. There is a keyhole at top center of the front of the trunk, and a large metal handle in the middle of each side. The trunk is painted in brown, yellow, blue, black, and white, with designs that include a curling scroll and a shield.
Painted Decoration. The trunk is painted in shades of olive brown overall, with designs and embellishments in yellow, blue, white, and black. The top of the lid has a border of a think and a thin yellow line set in from each edge. A yellow line connects each corner of the border to the actual corner of the lid. The central rectangular decoration of the lid is bordered with a thin yellow line, a thick brown line, and a thin white line, working in toward the center. The corners and sides of the white part of the border are embellished with squiggling white flourishes. Thin horizontal yellow lines fit between the white flourishes, and are also seen at the top and bottom of the interior of the white border. The central motif is an arched yellow scroll that curls under on each end. The sections that curl under are brown with white dots, and blue. Extending from the end of each blue portion is a yellow curl with brown detailing. Painted in yellow in the middle of this scroll is "This side up,with care." All four narrow front edges of the lid have thick line of dark brown paint on the sides and top, and a thin yellow line painted through the middle.
On the side of the trunk, each extra piece that widens the top and base has a border consisting of a thick brown line on the sides and bottom edge, with a thin yellow line on all four sides within it; on the pieces that widen the top, the thick brown line runs around all four edges, even the top. The yellow line is painted at the edge of the wood on the top of the border, and set in from the edge somewhat on the sides and bottom. The chamfered top edge of each base piece is painted with a thick yellow line where the base meets the middle section of the trunk. In the center of the front piece of the wide top, extra decoration is added around the keyhole, within the border of the thin yellow line. A yellow curling line runs up and over the keyhole, and light brown and yellow curved lines outline the bottom. Additional thick and thin curling lines are in white, brown, and yellow.
The front of the middle section of the trunk has a wide design of scrolls and curls in yellow and brown, with thin lines of detail in white and black. At the center of the curls, there is a shield with a curving, three-pointed top. The shield has a yellow line across the top, over a light blue area with three white stars in a line, over a second yellow line, over thirteen vertical stripes that alternate from black to white. The shield is outlined in dark brown paint within a thin white line. A decorative yellow and black curl extends above and below the outline of the shield. Each side of the front piece of the trunk has a dark brown, curved section at the edge, within a thick yellow line and a thin pale yellow line.
On the sides and back of the trunk, the edges have the same border as the edges of the front of the trunk; in three-quarter view, the border on adjoining sides of teh trunk comes together symmetrically. The space around the handle on each side is painted with the identical decoration. A yellow downward-curling flourish extends to either side of the handle. Additional thin lines of black and white make the design longer at the sides and fill in space toward the top. The entire design is outlined on all four sides with a thin yellow line.
Construction. Four separate pieces of wood make the front, back, and each side of the trunk. An extra piece of three-inch-high wood is added at the sides and front of the top to make the top wider. An extra piece of four-inch-high wood is added at the sides, the front, and the back of the base to make the base wider; the top edge of each of the pieces of the wood on the base is chamfered. Each of the extra pieces of wood is secured on the interior of the trunk by a screw at either end. The lid of the trunk has two extra supporting piece of wood, one on the left and one on the right side of the interior, oriented front to back; when closed, the edge of each supporting piece is flush with the side of the trunk. Each supporting piece is secured to the underside of the lid with five screws, one at each corner and one in the middle. The interior of the trunk has a leather strap on the left side, to support the lid while it is open. Four nails secure the strap; two on left interior side of the trunk, and two on the side of the left support beam attached to the top of the trunk.
Hardware. There is an oval, metal keyhole at center front of the top section, with accompanying lock hardware on the corresponding portion of the interior. A section of the underside of the lid has a shallow rectangular cutout to accommodate the lock hardware on the interior of the trunk; two screws have been driven into the cutout area. Either side of the trunk has a handle consisting of a rectangular plate with the handle set into it, so that the handle is flush with the side of the trunk; the plate is secured with five large screws at each corner and at center top. Two metal brackets are set on the back edge of each side, behind the handle. The brackets are side by side, secured with screws. The brackets are painted over with the decorative design on the trunk. The lid is supported on two hinges at the back edge of the top section of the trunk. The hinges are secured by three screws on the top edge of the trunk, and three screws on the back edge of the bottom of the lid.
Painted Decoration. The trunk is painted in shades of olive brown overall, with designs and embellishments in yellow, blue, white, and black. The top of the lid has a border of a think and a thin yellow line set in from each edge. A yellow line connects each corner of the border to the actual corner of the lid. The central rectangular decoration of the lid is bordered with a thin yellow line, a thick brown line, and a thin white line, working in toward the center. The corners and sides of the white part of the border are embellished with squiggling white flourishes. Thin horizontal yellow lines fit between the white flourishes, and are also seen at the top and bottom of the interior of the white border. The central motif is an arched yellow scroll that curls under on each end. The sections that curl under are brown with white dots, and blue. Extending from the end of each blue portion is a yellow curl with brown detailing. Painted in yellow in the middle of this scroll is "This side up,with care." All four narrow front edges of the lid have thick line of dark brown paint on the sides and top, and a thin yellow line painted through the middle.
On the side of the trunk, each extra piece that widens the top and base has a border consisting of a thick brown line on the sides and bottom edge, with a thin yellow line on all four sides within it; on the pieces that widen the top, the thick brown line runs around all four edges, even the top. The yellow line is painted at the edge of the wood on the top of the border, and set in from the edge somewhat on the sides and bottom. The chamfered top edge of each base piece is painted with a thick yellow line where the base meets the middle section of the trunk. In the center of the front piece of the wide top, extra decoration is added around the keyhole, within the border of the thin yellow line. A yellow curling line runs up and over the keyhole, and light brown and yellow curved lines outline the bottom. Additional thick and thin curling lines are in white, brown, and yellow.
The front of the middle section of the trunk has a wide design of scrolls and curls in yellow and brown, with thin lines of detail in white and black. At the center of the curls, there is a shield with a curving, three-pointed top. The shield has a yellow line across the top, over a light blue area with three white stars in a line, over a second yellow line, over thirteen vertical stripes that alternate from black to white. The shield is outlined in dark brown paint within a thin white line. A decorative yellow and black curl extends above and below the outline of the shield. Each side of the front piece of the trunk has a dark brown, curved section at the edge, within a thick yellow line and a thin pale yellow line.
On the sides and back of the trunk, the edges have the same border as the edges of the front of the trunk; in three-quarter view, the border on adjoining sides of teh trunk comes together symmetrically. The space around the handle on each side is painted with the identical decoration. A yellow downward-curling flourish extends to either side of the handle. Additional thin lines of black and white make the design longer at the sides and fill in space toward the top. The entire design is outlined on all four sides with a thin yellow line.
Construction. Four separate pieces of wood make the front, back, and each side of the trunk. An extra piece of three-inch-high wood is added at the sides and front of the top to make the top wider. An extra piece of four-inch-high wood is added at the sides, the front, and the back of the base to make the base wider; the top edge of each of the pieces of the wood on the base is chamfered. Each of the extra pieces of wood is secured on the interior of the trunk by a screw at either end. The lid of the trunk has two extra supporting piece of wood, one on the left and one on the right side of the interior, oriented front to back; when closed, the edge of each supporting piece is flush with the side of the trunk. Each supporting piece is secured to the underside of the lid with five screws, one at each corner and one in the middle. The interior of the trunk has a leather strap on the left side, to support the lid while it is open. Four nails secure the strap; two on left interior side of the trunk, and two on the side of the left support beam attached to the top of the trunk.
Hardware. There is an oval, metal keyhole at center front of the top section, with accompanying lock hardware on the corresponding portion of the interior. A section of the underside of the lid has a shallow rectangular cutout to accommodate the lock hardware on the interior of the trunk; two screws have been driven into the cutout area. Either side of the trunk has a handle consisting of a rectangular plate with the handle set into it, so that the handle is flush with the side of the trunk; the plate is secured with five large screws at each corner and at center top. Two metal brackets are set on the back edge of each side, behind the handle. The brackets are side by side, secured with screws. The brackets are painted over with the decorative design on the trunk. The lid is supported on two hinges at the back edge of the top section of the trunk. The hinges are secured by three screws on the top edge of the trunk, and three screws on the back edge of the bottom of the lid.
Status
Not on view
