| This trunk was constructed to be used in traveling. The top lid is not flat; it is curved. In fact, the top lid is not constructed from a single piece of wood, which could easily crack or break. The lid is comprised of three pieces of wood, two of which are about an inch thick and curved; and the third is a thicker, nearly two inch thick, flat piece, which has grooves running down its length on both sides, into which the thinner, curved pieces fit. The idea behind the lid being constructed of the three pieces, and their particular shapes, was so that the lid could take a great amount of pressure without breaking. |
| The trunk is completely encircled by the hinges. As the images below show, the hinges start it the back and wrap around the trunk underneath and overtop, to meet at the front. The encircling iron straps help to keep the trunk together and prevent it from easily breaking if carried on a stagecoach from which it might fall. |
| The handles were shaped with the ends bent at ninety degrees to the trunk surface when hanging, so that the person(s) lifting the trunk would not hurt their hands. The bent ends of the handle prevent the handle from being raised at an angle greater than 90 degrees from the surface. |
| I was a teenager (about fifteen or sixteen) when my Aunt Ann Noffsker bought this for me for Christmas. No offense to my other aunts and uncles, but Ann was my favorite. A gift like this would be appreciated and cherished if it came from anyone, but since it came from Ann, I have treasured it especially. |
