Captain's sea chest

by Stephen Montgomery
(Bakersfield Calif.)

According to local musician, music teacher and music supply store owner the late Jack Parlier who sold this to me back in the mid 1970s it was salvaged from a merchantman that went down in New York harbor around 1776.

It remained onboard for some time before salvers got it and because of the list of the deck one corner of the trunk was below the water line at high tide. Worm damage is visible at this corner. The rest of the trunk retains its original exterior lacquer finish.

The interior appears to have been modified as all interior shelves, bins etc have been removed and hinges and brackets appear to date from far later than the trunk itself.

Grooves in the interior sides indicate some sort of tracking device to hold compartments that no longer exist. When closed none of this is visible.