M
ost doll collectors will agree that one of the great joys of this hobby
is owning a doll with a wardrobe. Most wardrobes are stored in
trunks. Collectors often create wardrobes if their doll does not
come with one. When searching for a doll trunk, it's important to
find a one that is representative of the same period as your doll.
Full-size trunks have been around since man began to travel. They have doubled as
furniture when large and sturdy enough. Their heyday was from the 1870s to the early
1920s. Most trunks collected today are from that era, and most were made in the United
States. Many companies manufactured trunks, from the Reconstruction time period
into the next century. Large numbers were exported to Europe, only to come back again
with the tides of immigrants. The manufacturing of trunks in America started in the
late 1600s. These were usually flat-topped, made of wood and covered in animal hides.
By the 1700s they became more ornamental, with brass tacks, forged iron locks and
handles and leather trim.
Bébé Jumeau has a large wardrobe
stored in this trunk.
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Doll News Fall 2016