Large 19th Century Domed Immigrant Coffer Trunk Dated Modd 1854

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This large 19th-century immigrant's domed coffer trunk is personalized with the last name Modd and the date 1854. In addition … Read more This large 19th-century immigrant's domed coffer trunk is personalized with the last name Modd and the date 1854. In addition to the beautiful calligraphy monogram, the brick red paint and the cast iron and steel that comprise the handles, straps, and latch are a storied collage of time-worn materials that reflect the history of travel in pursuit of the American dream. The raw pine wood inside is impressively clean and well-preserved, making this trunk functional for use with the addition of a removable, floral paper liner that came with the trunk.

1854 most likely indicates the year that the owner crossed the seas to America. 170 years later, we purchased it at the estate sale of a lawyer residing on Oak Street in Medford, Oregon, one of the older and historically affluent neighborhoods. The Oregon gold rush, having begun right here in the Rogue Valley of Southern Oregon in the early 1850s, suggests why this trunk may have landed here. See less