Chests

[HarborMaster]

Thats a right fine go-round with the saw Captain Bob. Should hold a fortune in Gold and Gems. Yer mitered corners look good and the dark stain suits it well.

[Captain Bob]

Credit where it is due. My neighbor, being more experienced than I at cabinetry, is responsible for the construction of the box and lid and for cutting the "iron bands" (he works as an installer for Home Depot) I designed the box, finished the wood bits and attached the hardware. If it looks good it's because I didn't cut any of the wood. If I had, it would have looked something like Charlie Brown's kite after the kite-eating tree got through with it.

The next one (when I get around to it) will be larger and have more iron (and less brass).

--Captain Bob

[Kathyrn Ramsey]

It came out very well Capt... you should be proud of the work you and your neighbor did... and you can always age the brass a bit so that it looks older and not so shiny.

[Daniel]

I notice that while most of the chests here are flat-topped (including Captain Bob's, and congrats), there is at least one period chest with a hump-backed lid like in the Howard Pyle paintings. What is the purpose behind a hump-backed lid? Flat tops have a clear advantage in that you can stack flat-topped chests on top of each other, or use them as card tables or map tables. They would also appear easier to make. Yet someone went to considerable trouble to fashion hump-backed lids. Why?

[Rumba Rue]

Well actually I'm not sure, but mine has compartments built into the hump that open up for more storage.

[HarborMaster]

I notice that while most of the chests here are flat-topped (including Captain Bob's, and congrats), there is at least one period chest with a hump-backed lid like in the Howard Pyle paintings. What is the purpose behind a hump-backed lid? Flat tops have a clear advantage in that you can stack flat-topped chests on top of each other, or use them as card tables or map tables. They would also appear easier to make. Yet someone went to considerable trouble to fashion hump-backed lids. Why?

For me? Personally I did it for the challenge .,also I wanted something not everyone has.,and lastly.,because I can.

With this in mind we have to remember a sea chest is for storage and would indeed be easier to stack (basically a portable clothing compartment) .

A "treasure chest" or a jewelry box however isnt just a wooden block., they are sometimes ornate and with a degree of style .,some boxes are more attractive than others used as a decorative piece perhaps in a room as the center piece for the top of a cabinet or dresser. You wouldnt want to display an old sea chest on a nice dresser would you?

Sometimes the detail and skill involved in a given project is a reflection of the artisans work and the price someone is willing to pay for it.

Its the same idea for why was a ship so decorated at the aft or the bow?

Why was a Cannon decorated with a Cypher and a crown?

Why would a person choose a curly maple when a lesser grade wood is somuch more easily affordable ?

I am going to have to give this one to personal preferance and point of purpose as well as place of use.

[Silkie McDonough]

I know that MANY years later, steamer trunks were made with curved surfaces BECAUSE they wouldn't stack well. That way the trunks with hump-back were stacked on the top and more easily accessible. Could the reason be a similar in the GAoP?

[Capt. Sterling]

Gee I always thought hump backed chests or rolled topped trunks were strictly a 19th century thing. I have two originals and they are both dated 1870s. All the trunk restoration sites seem to date rolled topped trunks with the straight sides around then. I also have a reproduction hair trunk circa 1770s, now that has a rolled top but the entire trunk is almost round, only the very bottom is flat. There is a chest in the V&A circa early 18th century and that has a flat top and most of the jewelry caskets are flat topped as well, but not all.

Would be interesting to find out more about the true period shape... as for all the talk about flat tops being better storage... with three somewhat round trunks in my keeping, I can't tell you what a mistake they were to purchase, I needed to get a trailer just to get camp gear to an event, you really can't put much on top of em....

Hector

[HarborMaster]

Perhaps ? However I can see the point of literally using a big ol' chest for a table or too stack.

A "Treasure Chest" or a Jewelry box or a small sea going "Coffer" I cant really see being big enough for charting or gathering around to play poker. Probably it would have been hidden from the majority .

Again A Big TREASURE CHEST would need to be built of steel so it wouldnt blow itself out fromthe weight of its own contents..,

and call for a forklift to move.

I dont believe there is a such thing as a sea going BIG treasure chest. Gold is HEAVY Silver is HEAVY.

Ever try to pickup a 5 gallon bucket of tire weights or some other lead for molding your own shot for your flintlock (Used tire weights from Les Schwab make good lead shot ) ? I dont care how big you are.,you wont get far and a 5 gallon bucket isnt very big.

A portable coffer wouldnt be big. A portable coffer probably wouldnt be getting stacked with the average seamans clothing box.

Logic would dictate a heavy little chest.,and it would be kept low and hidden out of sight and made of tougher materials. Heavy is never stacked high.

I can see a small coffer being more decorative than the average seamans chest., you bet. Be it steel strapped., Finer woods.,a fancy top., nicer handles..,Poor people didnt have coffers., Admirals did., Merchant Captains., Rich travelors.,ect.,ect.,

If your going to hunt for treasure....,the first thing to do., is look for the ships manifest., find out who was on board and from that you can make a more educated guess if the hunt is worth it?

[Ol Man From the Sea]

All of the chest pictured here appear to have flat bottoms. Did gaop sea chest not have the runners found on landsman's chest? I recall one source saying that that often when a seaman retired he would have feet added to his chest for land use, but the source did not seem to be a reliable one. Any one have any thing to add?

Patrick Dovetails??? where??? it looks leather covered to me.

Also anyone know of any gaop period sea chest on display in the US?

[CaptainSatan]

What is the purpose behind a hump-backed lid?

Most sea chests were the same chests used on land. The purpose of a round top on a traveling chest is to make it more water resistant. Water collects on a flat surface, but gravity will make it roll off of a rounded surface.The same reason most roofs are pointed and not flat...

-CS

[Captain Jim]

The chest of Alexander Selkirk, a period sea chest, around 1712.

Arched top, large lid overhangs, dovetailed, overly massive lock system. Inscribed "AS" and "No. 34" on top.

[Capt. Sterling]

chests top from Vallejo Maritime Gallery,

Marine Arts and Artifacts Specialists

17th Century Iron Chest

Armada Strong Box

Sold

30½ Inches long x 17 Inches Wide x 17¾ Inches High  Circa 1695 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

An excellent example of an actual “treasure chest” from the 17th century, this heavy iron strong box possesses artistic touches which enrich its presence. Made of the heaviest iron construction by European craftsmen, these chests were sold to the sailing nations, including Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands and of course, England. Used to transport and secure gold, silver, documents and other valuables, once loaded and locked, it would be incredibly difficult to move.

Impressively artistic inside and out, this box has a presence which is eye- catching. Its exterior has painted floral motifs with a burnished patina, showing very much a Baroque Spanish influence. Heavy twisted iron beckets at each end had to have been hand-forged by a master smithy. The large original key fits the lock in the center of the lid, hidden under the swivelled panel, and triggers the 12 bolts which are the chest’s primary security. The interior locking mechanism is covered by a scroll-cut panel that features hand-inscribed floral work held by four men, with hats, baggy pantaloons and heeled boots. There is an additional locking internal compartment with key and a false escutcheon on the face of the chest, between the pair of vertical iron hasps which would hold two additional padlocks. Once a portable safe, this box is now itself a treasure.

and bottom V&A

[CaptainSatan]

[CaptainSatan]

[CaptainSatan]

I don't believe there is a such thing as a sea going BIG treasure chest. Gold is HEAVY Silver is HEAVY.

Perspective: A standard gold brick (7 x 3 5/8 x 1 3/4 inches) weigh about 27.5 pounds each.

-CS

[Captain Jim]

Nice pictures of chests and all, but what are they and from when?

Provenance, man, give us the dates and origins of 'em.

[capnwilliam]

All the talk about "treasure chests" begs the assumption that pirates ever buried their treasure. There is little evidence in the historical record that they did. Also, what kind of sense would it make to do so?

"A short life and a merry one shall be my motto." These mates stole, divvied the loot, hit port, blew it - and did it all over again.

If you bury treasure: what's the point? You can't blow it. You can't invest it wisely. It's of no use to you until you come back and dig it up; by which point your "shipmates" may have beat you to the punch.

I don't mean to throw cold water on a fun wood-working project, though...

Capt. William

[kass]

Thank you, Captains Jim and William, for turning this back to the historical. Provenance please. A pretty picture does us no good, people, if its origin is unknown. Remember: scholarly discussion of the GAoP...

[CaptainSatan]

The chests pictured above are basic designs used repeatedly from the Dark Ages well into the 18th century (except for the barrel top). Almost every variation of chest was used during the GAoP. Including but not limted to flat top,square, rectangle,barrel top, coffin lid, etc. Just about any chest would be used during the period. As long as you don't paint it pink or add chrome plated Klingon mummification glyphs you are going to have a period chest.

I posted those pictures because they are designs that would be easy to build at home (except for the barrel lid).We are not talking about shoes , weapons or waistcoats. A chest is a BOX MADE OF WOOD that was sometimes bound with iron. There were no rules of fashion when it came to chests.As a result there are so many variations that almost any basic simple chest could be from the period.

-CS

[CaptainSatan]

Well...I did post this one as a joke....

.

[CaptainSatan]

Remember:  scholarly discussion of the GAoP... 

Did you not read the name of this thread

Here are some links in case you want to build yer own treasure chest.

http://www.historicenterprises.com/cart.ph...duct_list&c=122

If you have pyrate kiddos.

http://www.hearthsong.com/hearthsong/produ...rch%20Result|P1

http://www.horton-brasses.com/products/loc...s/ironlocks/111

http://www.horton-brasses.com/products/chestlifts

http://www.horton-brasses.com/products/han...ronspecialty/66

More hand forged strap hinges:

http://www.oldsmithyshop.com/hinges.html

http://www.wildwesthardware.com/hinges/hinges.htm

http://www.montanahinge.com/hinges.htm

http://www.cowboyindian.com/adrustih.htm

Smoke & Fire makes a kit for 'bout $50. (plus shipping).

http://www.smoke-fire.com/wood-items-furniture-1.asp

[blackjohn]

There were no rules of fashion when it came to chests.

Actually, as I recall there are, sort of.

[blackjohn]

Remember:  scholarly discussion of the GAoP... 

Did you not read the name of this thread

Here are some links in case you want to build yer own

If you had posted this in Plunder I doubt anyone would have said one peep about it. In here, people like to discuss the deep dark details of things, preferably with some sort of supporting evidence.

That Smoke & Fire chest looks interesting. But just because a sutler sells it doesn't mean it is correct.

:)

[CaptainSatan]

If you had posted this in Plunder I doubt anyone would have said one peep about it.  In here, people like to discuss the deep dark details of things, preferably with some sort of supporting evidence.

Were this thread meant for any serious discussion it would not mention the words treasure and chest in the same sentence.The concept of treasure chests is a fun part of pirate mythology.Attempting any serious scholarly discussion on a subject that is pure fantasy is like debating about Star Wars. They are both interesting subjects and they are both pure fiction.

-CS