Searching for Hidden Treasures

Searching for Hidden Treasures
Book Review
Good news for fans of the Keno brothers, not only will they be returning for another season on the Antiques Roadshow, the twins have a new book out detailing some of their most exciting antiquing adventures. Hidden Treasures: Searching for Masterpieces of American Furniture, written with Joan Barzilay Freund and published by Time Warner Books, might not be for everyone. But if you like watching the Antiques Roadshow, or the brothers in particular, you'll find this to be an enjoyable read.

More of this Feature
• Antiques Roadshow News
Discussion
Antiques Roadshow Calendar
More from Your Guide
• Buy this Book• Road Trip 2000
From Other Guides
• Antiques Roadshow Primer Review• Antiques Roadshow 2001 Guide• Antiques Roadshow Fake
Not only does the book provide a learning experience, delving into period furniture with comprehensive illustration, it entertains with anecdotes from the adolescent twins who declared themselves antiques dealers at age 12 with a "poetic" diary entry.
"It may seem unusual that Leigh and I were so consumed with the search for and study of antiques artifacts, but I don't think we ever had a choice in the matter. It was simply in our blood," Leslie Keno wrote.
For those of us who understand this concept completely, and even those who acquired a passion for collecting rather than inheriting it, the introductory material presented before the main course could never be described as boring.
Winding through a journey of auction house and antique gallery excitement, accented by some truly amazing antique furniture discoveries, the Kenos destiny comes to life as each page turns. And, of course, they include an interesting chapter on their Antiques Roadshow experiences to satisfy yearning fans that just can't quite get enough.
Besides, the first page of chapter one describes a rare mahogany secretary-bookcase as "sexy, beguiling and enigmatic." Who could resist the temptation to discover what other valuable seductions lie within?
If you've been looking for something a little different to add to your winter reading list, give the Kenos a try. Not only will you walk away with a smile; you'll be a bit wiser when it comes to spotting period furniture on your own antiquing adventures. Considering how much those pieces sell for these days, this could be the best $29.95 you've ever spent

Refinishing Furniture

Should you always refinish antique furniture? Definitely not. In fact, the less is more rule should be applied in most cases. If you happen to have a rare antique, or maybe even a furniture masterpiece, removing the original finish can be disastrous. Many times a gentle cleaning will suffice. More common pieces can be refinished, but do yourself a favor and read up on cream of the crop antique furniture if you don't know how to tell the difference

Old Trunk Makers List

Old Trunk Makers List William Crockett & Co. Early to mid-1800s, harness maker who made trunks as a sideline.Charles F. Cushing Apparently this guy made trunks in New Bedford, Mass. We've only seen his advertising card, never have been able to find a trunk with his label on it.DUGUID BROTHERSWall trunks were made by several companies, most famous of which was the M.M. Secors line. Duguid Brothers were less well known, and their trunks sold more to the middle class of travelers. Not steerage, not sunny topside, right smack amidships. Handy for pushing against the wall in a small room.FABER TRUNKS or H.G. FABER AND SONSMade in Utica, New York, starting in 1890. They made trunks from several varieties of wood, including mahogany, teak, pine, oak, birch, and ash. Maybe others that we haven't seen yet. Usually has a brass tag on the outside, near the lock.FLORIDA TRUNK MFG. CO.Find one of these old Florida Trunks and you've got a keeper on your hands. Many of them were covered in real alligator skin, straight from right about where the Miami Dolphins play now. They advertised by sending out these postcards all over the east coast. We believe they operated from about 1925 until around 1948HARTMANNA very popular name in trunks, bags, traveling cases and the like. Still in business today. Most of these ads shown here are from the 1920s. We're not experts on Hartmanns. The people who really know Hartmann stuff know it inside and out. Who are they? Darned if we know.HOMER YOUNG CO.Old Homer and his folks made wall trunks and dresser trunks out in Toledo, Ohio.INDESTRUCTOYes, these trunks were very hard to break or damage. Of course, they looked awful, but they lasted. Responding to a more thrifty America, Indestructo competed with Neverbreak, Nevermar, Nevercrack, Travel-Well, and a few others to make trunks that had no appeal but would last forever. 1920s. Don't spend too much for these.HENRY LIKLY & CO.My old pal Hank made some wonderful trunks in his day, which was back in the mid-1800s. Started around 1840. Based in Rochester, NY, Likly trunks were known for their good looks and functional elements. They made wardrobe trunks, overnite bags, valises, standard box trunks, and even some hatboxes.C.A. Malm & CompanyOperating in San Francisco starting back in 1868 - still in business today as Malm Luggage.MARSHALL FIELD & CO.Before they were known for their department stores, Marshall Field made a lot of trunks. Mostly all standard box trunks, a little short in snappy features, but they worked and lasted well. Covered trays were standard issue. Started late 1800s, made trunks up until the 1940s, as near as we can tell.M. M. SECORSecor made the Champion Wall Trunk, which was a good seller for the company, along with many other styles. Probably responsible for the manufacture of millions of trunks. Based in Racine, Wisconsin. Started business in 1862, patented wall trunks in 1894, 1895, and 1897. Many of his wall trunks had a 'hip-roof' style, like the barns you'd see if you were out there in Wisconsin. Maybe he was inspired.M. M. SECORSecor made the Champion Wall Trunk, which was a good seller for the company, along with many other styles. Probably responsible for the manufacture of millions of trunks. Based in Racine, Wisconsin. Started business in 1862, patented wall trunks in 1894, 1895, and 1897. Many of his wall trunks had a 'hip-roof' style, like the barns you'd see if you were out there in Wisconsin. Maybe he was inspired.M. M. SECORSecor made the Champion Wall Trunk, which was a good seller for the company, along with many other styles. Probably responsible for the manufacture of millions of trunks. Based in Racine, Wisconsin. Started business in 1862, patented wall trunks in 1894, 1895, and 1897. Many of his wall trunks had a 'hip-roof' style, like the barns you'd see if you were out there in Wisconsin. Maybe he was inspired.P&S TRUNK CO.P&S had this unique yellow lithograph inside each of their trunks. It says "Trunks that Wear Everywhere" and their trunks usually are showing some wear just about everywhere, but we don't think they meant it that way. Late 1800s to early 1900s.E. D. Reynolds Trunk & Bag From Fremont Street right in downtown Portland, Maine, operating from about 1800 until who knows when.E. D. Reynolds Trunk & Bag From Fremont Street right in downtown Portland, Maine, operating from about 1800 until who knows when.SEWARD TRUNK AND BAG CO.Claiming to be the largest baggage co. in the world, Seward was based in Petersburg, VA. Postcard shows the factory. Price list above from 1904 shows trunk prices averaging around $2.00. Middle-class trunks, nothing too elaborate. Still in business today; their footlockers may be purchased at large stores such as WalMart and others.LOUIS VUITTONProducing highly expensive bags, purses, and traveling cases (including trunks) from Paris and London, old Louie really made a name for himself. These are sort of the big money trunks in this game. Some are worth tens of thousands of $, and even some very beat up Vuittons sell for around $1,000. There are many experts on Vuittons, but we are not one of them. We learn a little more every time one of them shows up in the shop. Vuitton is still in business; they have a website that provides some history of the companyWHEARY TRUNKSProducers of fine wardrobe trunks and smaller bags that looked like trunk/suitcase hybrids. 1930s.WINSHIP The Trunk with DrawersWinship was one of the very first makers of wardrobe trunks here in the US. They made their first wardrobre trunks around 1884. Based in Utica, New York, they also made specialty cases for musical instruments, surveying equipment, and other needs. This ad is from a 1926 magazine, we believe the company disappeared around 1933

Louis Vuitton Trunks

Louis Vuitton Trunks: These trunks are named for Louis Vuitton, who started manufacturing trunks in Paris, in 1854. These are high end trunks and usually very high priced. For more information, please check the Louis Vuitton website or one of the dealers that specialize in these trunks

Jenny Lind Trunks

Jenny Lind Trunks: These trunks are easily recognized by their "figure 8", "loaf of bread" shape or their curved keyhole shape. They were generally leather covered with iron bands around them and brass buttons to affix the bands. The more exquisite ones had brass bands, brass buttons, and brass locks along with nicely detailed compartments inside. These trunks were named for the Swedish singer of the same name, Jenny Lind, who made a concert tour in America in the early 1850's and carried trunks of this shape with her

Antiques

Antiques Here's a list of some of our selections:We have a 1900 Pigenhole: Used in country store in Virgina.We have a Walnut Chest: Solid 4 drawer chest with dove tail drawers.We have a Seatrunk: Restored SolidWe have a Solid Oak Washstand: Dove tail drawers, VirginaWe have a Traveling Trunk: Restored, original paper

Coverings

Coverings Canvas Embossed Patterns

Trunk History and Styles

Trunks were made in varying shapes and sizes and from many different materials over the course of hundred's of years. They began as very primitive cases covered in animal hides and improved in both their design and ornamentation in the late 1800's.With the advent of the railroad and the move to settle the west coupled with worldwide travel via ships, the number and variations of trunk designs changed significantly. Some of these styles are represented below.Trunk makers became common and often copied each others styles. There were manufacturers who specialized in trunks but most cities had blacksmiths who built trunks as a sideline business.I like to think of trunks as todays suitcase or overnight bag. People used trunks to store their personal belongings and they basically lived out of them as they traveled.Trunks like most other things came in varying levels of quality. From the basic flat top trunk to the popular Jenny Lind trunk to the ornate Saratoga or Brides trunk to the rare oak slat or Louis Vuitton trunk.

Different Sytles of Trunks

Different Styles of Trunks:DOll Trunks:Flat Tops:Round Tops:Stagecoach Trunks:Wordrobe Trunks:Miscellaneous Trunks:

Different Sytles of Trunks

Different Styles of Trunks:DOll Trunks:Flat Tops:Round Tops:Stagecoach Trunks:Wordrobe Trunks:Miscellaneous Trunks:

List of Antiques

list of antiques
Variety List of Antiques in Bell Buckle:Pigenhole:Seatrunks:Traveling Trunks:Walnut Chest:Solid Oak Washstand

Oak Slat Trunks

Oak Slat Trunks
Oak Slat Trunks: Unlike most trunks that were built with a secondary wood like pine for the body and a hard wood such as oak for the slats on the outside, this trunk body was entirely covered with oak slats. The insides would have been very nice with decorative trays and compartments. The primary maker of these trunks was the Excelsior Trunk Company located in Philadelphia, PA. These trunks were only made for approximately ten years beginning in the mid 1860's. Due to their short production, they are among the rarest of trunks today

Welcome

Welcome to Antiques in Bell Buckle
Welcome to Antiques in Bell Buckle.We are here to help you in your search and acquisition on antiques for your home, vacation home or business.

Trunk Makers and Their History

Trunk Makers and Their HistorySome Common Trunk Makers and Their HistoryAn Ongoing Effort - We Can Use Your HelpWe've been trying for ages to gather all of the information we can about some of the common trunk makers from days gone by. It arrives in fits and starts - We'll find a label in a trunk here, an advertisement in an old magazine there. if you have something to contribute, even a picture of a trunk label or something equally invigorating, and you're willing to share it, please feel free to give us a call. If you'd like to use this information somewhere else please request permission first. We won't bite. Much.There are a number of books that purport to be the definitive guide to trunks, but most seem to have just a bit of information on this and that. Someday we'll complete the book we've been working on since 1988, until then we've found a few that you might get a boot out of. Take a look at our section if you're interested.If you'd like to print this out, take the advice of Phil Meyerson, a professional hypno-therapist out in Southern California: Use legal paper and print using the landscape setting, that way everything seems to fit a little better, rather than those annoying extra sheets that have one little line.We recently added a new section ot the website that just flat lists the trunk makers that we're familiar with through our work here in the barn. So far we've only gotten part way through the alphabet. Come on by and take a look

Special Trunks:

Special Trunks
H. M. Barnum
Isaac Libbey
Bela Lugosi
Rufus Henry Pope Esq.

Coverings

Coverings
Canvas
Embossed Patterns

Styles of Trunks:

Doll Trunks
Flat Tops
Miscellaneous Trunks
Round Tops
Stagecoach Trunks

How Our Trunks of Old Are Used in Today's World:

How Our Trunks of Old Are Used in Today's World:
1. Gifts: Each of our trunks is very much an individual with its own personality, style & history. This is something you just can't buy in any shopping mall.2. Tables: Flat top trunks can be used as almost any kind of table, coffee table, end table, night stand with storage.3. Foot of a bed: Nearly any trunk looks good here but the more decorative ones look exceptionally nice.4. File cabinet: We can convert any trunk large enough to accommodate a file rack into a file cabinet for you-no charge. Just tell us which-letter or legal size.
5. Printer and copier stands: Go ahead, dress up the office a bit, lots of our customers have with our flat top trunks. 6. Instant heirloom: Many families have bought several trunks from us to give to their children to pass on down to their heirs.
6a. Instant heirloom toy chests: One father in Idaho recently bought a third toy chest from Treasured Chests for the family's third child due any day now. In his words "Each chest was basically my gift to each child at their birth as a way to give them something that is fairly unique and in the hope that it will be something they will 'treasure' throughout their lifetime." We filled one order placed by an expectant mother in Vermont for a toy chest for her son's nursery.
7. Hide that recycle bin: A local customer just bought one of our as-is flat tops to house her recycle bin on her back porch.
8. TV table: We just sold a flat top that's going to hold the family's TV in their den.
9. Storage for irreplaceable items: A customer recently stated that her most precious possessions - photo negatives of her daughter, are stored in one of our restored trunks and in case of fire or flood, that would be the most important item in her home to save. From another: I live in New Orleans, LA. I keep all of my irreplaceables (christening gown used by every member of my family since 1934, etc.) inside that trunk. Whenever we have to evacuate, my husband knows that if nothing else, the contents of the trunk go with us. We don't take the trunk as it weighs a ton even when empty! Otherwise it is used daily as a table.10. Props: Our trunks can be used for video and still photography, historical reenactments, stage productions, and other forms of entertainment. We can furnish them as-is or restored to your needs.
11. Your use? Have a favorite use that you'd like to share with the rest of the world? Just email it to us and we'll post it.How Our Trunks of Old Are Used in Today's World:
1. Gifts: Each of our trunks is very much an individual with its own personality, style & history. This is something you just can't buy in any shopping mall.2. Tables: Flat top trunks can be used as almost any kind of table, coffee table, end table, night stand with storage.3. Foot of a bed: Nearly any trunk looks good here but the more decorative ones look exceptionally nice.4. File cabinet: We can convert any trunk large enough to accommodate a file rack into a file cabinet for you-no charge. Just tell us which-letter or legal size.
5. Printer and copier stands: Go ahead, dress up the office a bit, lots of our customers have with our flat top trunks. 6. Instant heirloom: Many families have bought several trunks from us to give to their children to pass on down to their heirs.
6a. Instant heirloom toy chests: One father in Idaho recently bought a third toy chest from Treasured Chests for the family's third child due any day now. In his words "Each chest was basically my gift to each child at their birth as a way to give them something that is fairly unique and in the hope that it will be something they will 'treasure' throughout their lifetime." We filled one order placed by an expectant mother in Vermont for a toy chest for her son's nursery.
7. Hide that recycle bin: A local customer just bought one of our as-is flat tops to house her recycle bin on her back porch.
8. TV table: We just sold a flat top that's going to hold the family's TV in their den.
9. Storage for irreplaceable items: A customer recently stated that her most precious possessions - photo negatives of her daughter, are stored in one of our restored trunks and in case of fire or flood, that would be the most important item in her home to save. From another: I live in New Orleans, LA. I keep all of my irreplaceables (christening gown used by every member of my family since 1934, etc.) inside that trunk. Whenever we have to evacuate, my husband knows that if nothing else, the contents of the trunk go with us. We don't take the trunk as it weighs a ton even when empty! Otherwise it is used daily as a table.10. Props: Our trunks can be used for video and still photography, historical reenactments, stage productions, and other forms of entertainment. We can furnish them as-is or restored to your needs.
11. Your use? Have a favorite use that you'd like to share with the rest of the world? Just email it to us and we'll post it.

Antique Items

Item #2-Beautiful Circus Theme Toy Chest
Trunk #6-1880s Flat Top W/Unique Spots In Spots Pattern, Absolutely BeautifulTrunk #6-1880s Flat Top W/Unique Spots In Spots Pattern, Absolutely Beautiful
Trunk #13-1880s Dome Top W/Spots In Spots Pattern, Original Working Lock W/Solid Brass Key, Original Artwork