Who is H.E.D.?

My mother is the great collector.

Long before I developed an appreciation for yard sales, antique fairs, estate sales, auctions, and yes, the town dump, my mother has been collecting treasures.

Who is H.E.D.?  I don't know!

Where did my mother find this trunk? She can't remember!

When I needed a coffee table for my new apartment, I went looking through some of the interesting things in our attic. I found this trunk and several others, all waiting for a creative use. (When I can afford a larger apartment, I might ask her for two more. I love the look of an old trunk, but I especially love a stacked set of old trunks. A collection is a unique addition to a creative space!)

This past weekend, I decided to repair and repaint the trunk, which is my new linen closet, coffee table, and clutter storage site.

After one coat, I found areas that needed more attention but two coats covered the rust completely.

The finished product:

I also repaired the handle with Gorilla glue.

My goal was not to make the trunk look new, or even to paint the metal areas perfectly. It was simply to preserve the metal and prevent damage to my other belongs and to my guests' clothing. While I'm not a fan of shabby chic or primitives, I do appreciate the history of furniture. I'm especially captivated by the provenance of portable furniture, because its history inevitably includes travel and a variety of destinations. There is something mysterious about an old trunk. 

Did H.E.D. add this sticker to the inside of the trunk?

Who added the border? Why?

Of the trunks residing in the family attic, I find one especially interesting. It was used by a theater company, and it contains all sorts of evidence of travel to locations throughout the United States. The chrome and steel frame didn't lend themselves to my current decor, but I hope that one day I will also have a place to display another interesting find in my mother's collection!