Above restored antique trunk was turned into a "US Navy Retirement Shadow Box" by the wife of a Navy Chief, her name is Molly! She selected the trunk and designed the shadow box.
Thanks again Molly, good job! We wish you and your husband 'fair winds and a following sea' wherever life now takes you!
Above restored antique trunk was turned into a "US Navy Retirement Shadow Box" by a Chief Warrant Officer! Mike made CW04 Chief Warrant after first achieving the rank of Senior Chief.
Good Luck Mike, we wish you 'fair winds and a following sea' wherever life now takes you in your well deserved retirement!
Note that the above trunk and shadowbox was constructed for an Air Force retirement using a "low Profile" trunk as the base, very similar in style to a foot locker which it essentially was so that it could fit under bunk beds in a statefroom. Maximum utilization of space was achieved by using the space under the lid for the styles of uniform worn and respective patches, including the "dress blues" and this veterans ribbons.
Above is one of our restored antique trunks purchased by Matt a retired US Navy Seal Senior Chief with a distinguished career who had the trunk repurposed and customized the trunk to include all of his many medals and ribbons, edged weapons he was issued, progression of rate and chevrons, uniforms, along with his Chief's Cutlass! It was an honor and pleasure working with Matt and we wish him "fair winds and a following sea" wherever life's journey now takes him
The above trunk #820 was purchased for a retiring Husband and Wife both Navy Chief Petty Officers who wanted to share the US Navy Retirement shadowbox display and restored trunk as they have shared their life. The workmanship of the restored trunk and outfitted shadowbox is fantastic and on-point. Note the lift out tray which was to display the collection of their many "challenge coins". The many medals, ribbons, collar insignia, patches, etc etc were symetrically placed for easy display and viewing. Both of their retirement flags, duty stations, and ribbons were separately and equally placed under the lid. The trunk was lined with cedar planks, Nice!
The above trunk #835 was purchased for a retiring Navy Chief Petty Officer. The workmanship is fantastic and on-point. Note the compartment for this Navy Chief's collection of "challenge coins". The many medals, ribbons, collar insignia, patches, etc etc were symetrically placed for easy display and viewing. The "US Navy Chief Petty Officers Creed" inscribed on a wooden plaque is prominently displayed under the lid! Also appears that the trunk was lined with cedar planks, Nice!
The above trunk (#785) to the left was purchased and outfitted as a shadowbox for a retiring US Navy F-18 fighter pilot by his buddy as a retirement gift.
The above trunk to the left was purchased for a retiring Air Force Master Chief by his wife as a retirement gift. Note the area in the tray where he will keep his extensive "Challenge Coin" collection!
The above trunk to the right was purchased by the wife and children of a retiring US Navy Chief Warrant Officer as a surprise during his retirement ceremony. The tray/shadow box included his retirement flag, medals, ribbons, awards and MAA badges. It was reported that the ceremony was great, memorable, and that the Chief Warrant was properly surprised - his wife and children did a fantastic job for him in getting this all to come together!
Greg chose the above unique low profile trunk and re-purposed it into his retirement shadow box and display chest. He built the lift out tray/shadow box which included his retirement flag, medals, ribbons, and awards, and then adhered stars and stripes on both the inside bottom and underside of the lid to finish the trunk off. Since we used "spar varnish" on both the inside and outside of this trunk he is able to place it under the window without fear of the sunlight damaging the wood since the varnish we use has UV protection along with sealing the wood and metal surfaces. Looks fantastic!
Above is a recently repurposed antique trunk #404 which was turned into a Navy Retirement Shadow Box for a CWO4 Seal Team member after 27 years of naval service! Unique to this chest is that two lift out trays (or shadow boxes) were constructed with one sitting on top of another as in a layer. Below the two trays were the various uniforms he wore during his service. Note that the first tray was laid out and displayed in a fashion as to show the CWO4's service progression; the flag in the second tray was carried by this service member on all of his combat actions while in Iraq.
The above 100+ year old one-of-a-kind antique trunk #623 was purchased from The Pirates Lair and re-purposed into a "Navy Shadow Box" for a retiring Senior Chief from the US Navy Seal Teams. The craftsmanship is absolutely stunning and I'm sure Senior Chief will have this for many days to come safely kept in the man cave or private office for displaying his many well-deserved treasures and memories!
After 20 or more years of service why settle for just a typical shadow box as a Army Retirement Gift, Air Force Retirement Gift, Navy Retirement Gift or Military Retirement Gift, only to be hung on a wall?
When you can get a 100+ year old nautical antique trunk to safely store your medals, ribbons, flags, uniforms, ceremonial swords, photograph albums, other service memorabilia and a lifetime of memories! A PERFECT Military or Navy Retirement Gift For Him, or Navy Retirement Gift for Her!
These Authentic Nautical Antique Trunks can be used as both a Unique Shadow Box (or Shadowbox) and a Storage Chest as well! They are absolutely beautiful, ruggedly handsome and can compliment any room - especially that man cave!
All of these fully restored antique trunks are between 100 to 150+ years old, a perfect compliment to your lifetime of military or naval service and will be a centerpiece display during your Military Retirement or Navy Retirement ceremony and a showpiece in your home!
Beautifully restored in varying sizes and models to choose from for even the most discerning sailor! A Treasure Chest for you Treasures with that Piratey look!
Note above how Keith (a Navy Warrant Officer) used both the lift out tray as a shadow box and inside of the lid for a complete display of his medals, ribbons, flag and uniform blouse! All maximizing the available space in a dramatic fashion.
All three shadow boxes (2 in the lid and the 1 tray) can be removed for close viewing and even displayed on a wall if so desired. The MOST unique Military Retirement Gift and Navy Retirement Gift for him!
These authentic nautical antique trunks are also perfect to store your uniforms, hats, photograph albums, ceremonial swords and other naval memorabilia collected over a career in the service as well as to safely display small keepsakes.
Click Here To Review 100+ Year Old Authentic Fully Restored Nautical and Antique Trunks For Navy Retirement or Military Retirement Gifts READY to be used as a Shadowbox!
Note how the lift out tray was fashioned into a military shadow box that can be lifted out and displayed if desired, while underneath can be stored all of the uniforms, caps, belts, photograph albums, and other memorabilia accumulated over 20 or more years of service!
The above antique trunk as turned into a navy retirement shadow box was trunk #154 which can be viewed here on The Pirate's Lair.
The above antique trunk #257 as turned into a marine corps retirement shadow box. The shadow box was constructed in such a manner as to be displayed in the trunk or lifted out and mounted up on a wall.
The above antique trunk #303 was turned into a US Navy retirement shadowbox now owned by Shelly. She was able to construct a fixed shadowbox in the lid that displays her retirement flag which was flown on the USS Constitution, as well as the various badges she earned over the years on Naval Service. The liftout tray was re-constructed to be a removable shadowbox displaying her many ribbons and medals, duty stations, etc etc.
Above is an image of Shelly's restored antique trunk before it was re-outfitted into her navy retirement shadowbox.
The above photos illustrate how Antique Trunk #426 was turned into an Air Force retirement shadowbox now owned by Chuck. Note how he was able to construct a fixed shadowbox in the lid that displays his retirement flag, cammy fatigues, and dress blue uniforms. A removable shadowbox-tray was constructed to display Chuck's many medals, ribbons, stripes and in a separate compartment his challenge coins with room to add more.
Chuck selected to use mesquite to construct the two shadowboxes which perfectly match the 100 year old aged patina of the trunk.
Above is what the trunk looks like closed.
Below is an excellent example of what a Marine Corps married couple designed and constructed. You will see two trunks (a pressed tin black and gold dometop, and an all wood roll top) both turned into retirement display and shadow boxes for a married Marine couple. Each selected their own trunk of choice and then had the interior of each constructed into a display and shadowbox. Note that while each trunk was significantly different based upon their different tastes, the construction of the interior of each trunk was very similar in style reflecting their marriage to each other, while different in content reflecting their individual careers.
Above is Tammy's trunk and shadowbox
Above is Chris's trunk and shadowbox
Here they are opened side by side! Absolutely beautiful and thoroughly well thought out in concept, design, and execution! Semper Fi my friends!
Above is one of our antique restored trunks #583 turned into a shadow box and stoarge chest for one of our USAF US Air Force Colonels who retired in late 2015. Note the laser engraved placque which consisted of over 1300 letters which really personlized the trunk. The placque listed all of the colonel's duty stations. Click HERE To Review Trunk #583 Before Conversion to a Shadow Box
The above restored trunk (#486) was purchased from The Pirates Lair by a client by the name of Hutch for his retirement from the Naval service as an aviator. He re-purposed the trunk into a shadow box to display as can be seen above. I like the way he installed the two leather handles along the top edge of the lift out shadow box and how he used his shoulder boards to reflect his career and promotions.
Please note that we do not provide, prepare, or construct the shadow box itself that fits into the trunk, this must be done locally at your location by a craftsmen familiar with making shadow boxes and your personal awards, ribbons, and displayed memorabilia.
A Pirate's Lair Exclusive! Want Your Antique Trunk Memorialized Forever in Caligraphy Wood Engraving? The Pirate has a special crewmember who is a trained artist in woodworking who performs this service right here at The Pirate's Lair!
The Real Deal! Fully Restored Antique Trunks Like Sea Chests, Pirate Chests, Treasure Chests - Perfect as a Naval Retirement Gift, use as a Shadowbox and to store Uniforms and Service Memorabilia! |
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Custom Designed, Handcrafted, and Hand Lettered in Caligraphy on your Antique Chest |
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Engraving Fee: $100 Minimum or $5 per Letter. |
Customer Photographic Examples of our Antique Trunks Being used as a Military or Naval Retirement Shadow Box and Storage Chest!! |
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