This photograph shows the side of an old canvass trunk we have found in one of our attic rooms, now we have moved into the Quirky Museum. The trunk belonged to Rachel’s Uncle Arthur, an aspiring aristocratic tea merchant.
Arthur Royston Parker was a bachelor and lived in Lennox Gardens, London. He prospered, had good taste and travelled widely. In addition to the various trunks which we have, we have some photograph albums recording his holidays in Greece during the 1950s.
He was also friendly with someone who climbed Mount Everest in 1953 and we have a set of black and white prints which give a wonderful glimpse into that expedition. I might post some of these another time.
It is the canvass trunk which fascinates me and I love the side, with the scruffy canvass and worn stickers. They speak of travels in yesteryear, the days of privileged travelling on ocean liners. I ponder the contents of the trunk; perhaps fine clothing for sophisticated evening soirees.
At the time of writing the trunk is up for sale, currently someone is wanting to buy it for £20. On one hand, that’s a good deal in getting rid of a tatty trunk which no right-minded person would ever use again. However it’s also fashionable retro junk, which seems to be in demand nowadays. I did wonder whether it is worth simply cutting out the sides and having them framed?
