1920s Sewardrobe Steamer Trunk | Mary Carter Whitehurst, New Bern, N.C.
Viridian Eclection
The Piece
A Sewardrobe wardrobe trunk with a wood frame under a black vulcanized fiber exterior, bound and reinforced with brass hardware, rivets, and clasps.
The lid carries a hand painted identification reading Mary Carter Whitehurst, New Bern, N.C.
Inside, the trunk retains a well preserved marbled paper lining and its hinged wardrobe fittings, arranged for hanging garments and small effects rather than for loose packing.
History & Provenance
The trunk was made by the Seward Trunk and Bag Co. of Petersburg, Virginia, and carries a patent date of April 13, 1915. The Sewardrobe name refers to the maker's wardrobe pattern.
The patent date sets the earliest possible manufacture, and the form and fittings place the trunk itself in the 1920s.
The hand painted name records the original owner, Mary Carter Whitehurst of New Bern, North Carolina, which gives the trunk an intimate documented provenance of a kind that rarely survives.
Wardrobe trunks of this type belong to the age of railway and steamship travel, when luggage was expected to stand upright in a stateroom and serve as a closet for the length of a voyage.
Product Details
| Item | Sewardrobe steamer trunk |
| Maker | Seward Trunk and Bag Co. |
| Era | 1920s, patented April 13, 1915 |
| Origin | Petersburg, Virginia, United States |
| Materials | Wood frame, black vulcanized fiber, brass hardware |
| Marks | Hand painted identification, Mary Carter Whitehurst, New Bern, N.C. |
| Interior | Marbled paper lining with hinged wardrobe fittings |
| Provenance | Owned by Mary Carter Whitehurst, New Bern, North Carolina |
| Dimensions | Approximately 40 inches wide by 22 inches high by 21 inches deep |
| Condition | Excellent vintage condition, original hardware intact, minor wear consistent with age |
Why It Belongs in Your Home
Upright it reads as a case piece, useful at the end of a hall, beside a bed, or in a dressing room, and the wardrobe fittings still hold clothes and linens.
Laid down it becomes a low table or a storage centerpiece at the foot of a bed, with the brass hardware and black fiber giving a plain room a strong dark note.
The painted name is what a dealer or designer will point to. Named luggage carries a story, and this one names a woman, a town, and a moment in early American travel.
Every piece is packed with professional-grade materials: multiple foam layers, double-boxing, directional and fragile handling labels. For large furniture we use custom timber crating. We photograph packing before dispatch and can provide images on request.
White-glove delivery is complimentary within 100 miles of Reno, NV. National shipping quotes provided at checkout. All shipments are photographed and documented. Damage claims must be filed with the carrier; we provide all documentation needed to support your claim.
Local pickup is available at Viridian HQ (Reno, NV) with 2–4 days notice. Contact us to arrange. Private viewings also available.
All antique and vintage items are sold as described and all sales are final. Each listing includes detailed condition notes and photographs so you can make a fully informed decision. We encourage buyers to ask questions — about condition, dimensions, finish, provenance — before purchasing.
Antiques are irreplaceable and one-of-a-kind. Carrier handling is outside our control once a piece has left our facility, and major carriers including FedEx do not insure antiques. We do everything within our power to ensure safe transit, but cannot accept liability for carrier damage. If damage occurs in transit, we will provide full documentation to support your carrier claim.
Have a question? — we're happy to provide additional photos, condition detail, or discuss the piece directly.
