H79.92.1

ca. 1880
27 in HIGH x 38 in WIDE x 21 in DEEP
(68.58 cm HIGH x 96.52 cm WIDE x 53.34 cm DEEP)
Gift of Miss Edith Erikson
H79.92.1

"Train to Plane," History Changing Gallery, March 28 - June 15, 1980. KQED pilot film for "California Magazine," 7/1980.

Trunk. Description: a) Trunk embossed metal exterior texture resembles alligator hide, evidently the original finish had been bright "gold" because this color appears in protected areas, now the trunk is a rust/dusty brown. The leather handle on trunk's right side is missing and the leather handle on the left side is split in two; the top of the trunk is hinged and bowed, there are five wooden strips curved over the top. There is a lot of decorative hardware and the double catch on the lid front reads: "Mt'd. Oct. "71". The inside is lined with paper, cream background with brown dots and textured blue and brown circles. The inside of the lid is trimmed with a decorative paper border of red and black; in the center of the lid is a black and white portrait (etching?) of a young woman in exotic costume (Turkish?) b) Tray which fits on lop at the top of trunk, covered with the same paper as the interior lining. The tray has four compartments, one is open, one has a hinged lid covered by leather textured paper in red with the color lithograph of a young woman's head glued to it (cut-out head, blonde, wearing a flowered hat and a blue dress with lace trimming), panel is edged with red and blue paper decorative border; third compartment is lower than the center section, also has a hinged lid, which is covered with tan leather textured paper and also edged with the decorative blue and red paper border. The fourth compartment is narrow and runs the width of the trunk behind the other three compartments. The tray has small holes at either end to serve as a grip in order to lift the tray out of the trunk. Condition: a: good, dirty, handle as noted; a and b: paper lining torn and flaking in places. a: 36 7/8 x 24 3/4" b: 34 1/4 x 7 7/8 x 18 3/4". History: This collection is to bear the name of the donor's father, Erik Erikson, who arrived in California in 1882. Collection is to be designated as "In Honor of Erik Erikson." Used by donor's father, Erik Erikson, when he left Finland at age 18 years and sailed to the U.S.A. He came around the Horn to San Francisco in 1882, married and built his home in Berkeley. He and his wife had three boys and one girl, which he raised alone because his wife died when the girl (Edith, the donor) was a little child. Remarks: This is a nice looking piece, and could be displayed easily if cleaned.

Used: Erik Erikson

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