Authentic nautical sea chests or sea trunks were relatively simple affairs typically constructed of pine wood and made for the ordinary seaman but also for officers, masters and captains as well.
Most sea trunks had inward slanted sides with handcrafted dovetailed joints, wooden cleats on each side which held the rope beckets, and the top lid of the sea chest overlapped the front and the sides so as to prevent water from entering into it, securing iron hinges were secured on the underside of the wooden lid and onto the inside rear of the trunk to help prevent rusting and easy unauthorized access.
Some sea trunks also had a wooden skirt secured along the bottom on all 4 sides of the trunk, while some also had "wooden skids" attached to the bottom to keep the bottom off of a wet wooden deck as well as to allow easy movement.
The above 19th century antique sea chest is made of all pine wood and constructed in the classic style. It is relatively large at 48" long and has some repairs, but is handsomely elegant. Missing are the rope beckets (handles) which most likely deteriorated away decades and more ago! .
Below you will find late 19th century period photographs of sailors sitting on their small sea chests also known as ditty boxes!
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Period photograph aboard a US Navy man-of-war ca 1880s/190s. Note the two sea chests on the deck - a sailor is sitting on one and the other larger sea chest is just sitting on the deck upper right in the photo. The becket on the smaller one appears to consist of a rope covered bolt/screw and the larger appears to have a becket made entirely of rope.
Period photograph aboard the USS Mohican ca 1880s, sailor John King sitting far right on his ditty box with other Old Salts spinning tales and yarns! Also note the sailor to the far left also sitting on a ditty box, the rope becket can be seen hanging down from the wooden handle. Sometimes these ditty boxes are also known as Sea Chests or Sea Trunks.
Above is a period photograph of US Navy American sailors aboard ship playing dice and card games passing the time away while sitting on their ditty boxes: ca 1890s Spanish American War to pre-WWI early 1900s Great White Fleet era. Sometimes these ditty boxes were also known as Sea Chests or Sea Trunks.
photograph of old salt sailors standing aboard ship on the bow of the USS Ohio ca 1870s note the ditty box (sea trunk/sea chest) on the deck in front of the sailor to the left. There is also an enlisted spitoon sittin on the deck in the lower left of the photo.
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