1920s Vellum Steamer Travel Storage Trunk With Provenance

Details

Description

Offering an outstanding British vellum steamer travel case, circa 1920s. This unique leather trunk belonged to Mrs. Winifred Mary Barnes … Read more Offering an outstanding British vellum steamer travel case, circa 1920s. This unique leather trunk belonged to Mrs. Winifred Mary Barnes who married well-known British business man Ray Ellerton Binns in 1929. Her monogram W.M.B. is located on the front of the trunk with two stickers from the Cunard White Star Line indicating her 1st Class Stateroom trip on the RMS Queen Elizabeth on December 2nd, 1959 from New York City to Southampton. It also includes her London address: 237 Almoners House, St James Court, London, which is now the Taj Hotel near Buckingham Palace.

See information below about Mr. and Mrs. Ray Ellerton Binns.

A luxury travel item of its day and it is in very good condition for its age. The interior is pink silk moire fabric. Both the exterior and interior show wear commensurate with age. Please see photos as part of the description and condition. If this sort of quality travel trunk could be purchased today, it would cost in excess of £5000.

SIZE:
18" wide
18" deep
12" high

THIS ITEM WILL BE SECURELY PACKAGED FOR SAFE ARRIVAL.

PROVENANCE:
The name Ellerton-Binns (often appearing as Ray Ellerton Binns or Mrs. W. Ellerton Binns) refers to a prominent family with roots in Jamaica and the United Kingdom. Ray Ellerton Binns was a notable mining engineer, and his wife, Winifred, was a well-known socialite and collector.

Ray Ellerton Binns (1890–1974)
Ray Ellerton Binns was a successful mining engineer whose career spanned several decades and continents. Background: Born on July 19, 1890, in St. Ann, Jamaica. He was the son of Percy Binns and grew up in a family with deep ties to the Caribbean. Career: He was a Member of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy (MIMM). He served as a director and consultant for various mining companies, including the Associated Mining & Finance Co. and the Luipaards Vlei Estate and Gold Mining Co. in South Africa.

Personal Life: He married Winifred Mary Barnes (W.M.B.) in December 1929 in Marylebone, London. He passed away on January 29, 1974, in Wiltshire, England.

Mrs. R. Ellerton-Binns (Winifred Mary Binns, 1906–1993)
While she is sometimes referred to as Mrs. R. Ellerton-Binns in social and legal records, she was born Winifred Mary Barnes. (W.M.B.)

Social Standing: She was a prominent figure in British social circles. Records from the 1950s show her traveling first-class aboard the Queen Elizabeth with her husband.

Collector: She was a noted collector of fine silver and antiques. In January 1970, a significant auction of silver belonging to "Mrs. W. Ellerton Binns" was held at Christie's in London.

Later Years: Following her husband’s death, she lived in Wiltshire. She passed away on February 14, 1993, at the age of 86. See less