Welcome to Schoharie Trunks and One-Of-A-Kind creations
Refurbished antique trunks, upcycled collectibles, unique gifts, walking sticks, boxes, baskets & more
UPDATED: 4/7/25
Antique Trunks
Antique trunks are some of the most fascinating pieces of our history. If they could talk, each one could probably tell quite a tale -- maybe they arrived at Ellis Island packed with an immigrant's belongings, maybe they traveled on a Conestoga wagon bound for the west; or maybe they visited Saratoga Springs for the 'season'.
Trunk History
There were thousands of trunk makers in this country from the 1700's to the early 1900's. Montgomery Wards, Sears, and Macys had their own line of trunks, selling in 1895 from 50 cents to $5. Not all trunk makers labeled their trunks or the labels have disappeared with age. This unfortunately makes identification tough. There are nearly as many different trunks as there are manufacturers -- domes, round tops, flat tops, elaborate Saratoga's, steamers, Jenny Lind's, salesmen and doll trunks, to name a few. It seems that trunk makers and trunk owners were very proud of their trunks and wanted theirs to be unique. It is very rare that we ever find any two trunks exactly alike. Early trunks were built to last, constructed of pine/ash/oak and covered with a variety of waterproofing materials such as canvas, paper, leather, or tin. The quality of the construction testifies to the thousands of trunks still in good condition even though they're well over a hundred years old and have seen years of use, abuse, and neglect. Once these trunks have been cleaned up, repairs made, stripped and urethaned or painted as necessary, and the interior cleaned and lined, they become beautiful, useful, decorative furnishings for the home, while providing valuable storage space.
Quality Refinished Trunks
If you did not have the great fortune of acquiring an heirloom trunk packed with your ancestors' treasured possessions and are looking for a quality refinished trunk to give as a gift or for your personal use, take a look at the trunks we have available. Trunks make wonderful coffee tables, hope chests, tack trunks for the horse lover, storage chests for blankets/bedding (cedar bottoms are available for quality storage), photo albums, winter/summer clothing, CD's/tapes, books, toys, or any number of other uses. With over 400 trunks completed, this is a small sampling -- we are always working on our next trunk. We also have lots of trunks 'in the rough' if you're interested in picking one out and specifying your wishes for that special trunk. We strive to make each trunk we finish as unique as when it was originally made.