Collection:
Juneau—Douglas City Museum
Object ID:
94.20.009
Accession#:
94.20
Credit Line:
Donated by Helen Burns.
Object Name:
Chest, Sea
Title:
Wooden Sea Chest
Description:
Rectangular wooden sea chest has larger base than top opening and tapers up. Has flat overhanging lid attached by two three inch flat brass hinges. Left and right side have 10.0 inches by 2.0 inches iron pieces screwed to sides with large flathead screws. Iron pieces protrude 1.5 inches from trunk and create hollows for rope handles with one missing. Rope handle which remains is intricately woven and composed of white and pale—green rope. Front of trunk (center near top edge) has heart—shaped brass key plate with keyhole and attached rotating keyhole cover. Base is fortified with additional layer of carved wood. Corner joints are dovetailed. Interior of chest has two compartments near top: right compartment has sliding lid with groove carved for movement and smaller left compartment has lid with dowel hinges which have worn away and no longer functions. Inside left compartment are missing rope handle and three corroded brass corner reinforcements. Underside of lid has been painted in oil paint: white banner with center heart emblem and initials "O.K." over white circular life buoy, decorated at four compass points with red and blue stripes and backed by American flags. Inside buoy is painted a steamship and blue sea. The buoy bears faint, abraded inscription.
Inscription:"...(illeg.) ELEN (illeg.) DEAL".
Notes:
Donor said that her husband, Tom, believed chest was constructed of pepperwood.
People:
Burns, Robert
Burns, Helen
Burns, Tom
Search Terms:
Personal Belonging
Furniture
Maritime
Luggage
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