Vintage Patriotic Wooden Storage Chests

I'm at an auction where there is a transition in physical location going on.  People are migrating to Spot B.  No one is paying attention to the last few items being sold in Spot A.  Do I really want the huge old wooden storage chest?  No, but no one else is bidding at $2.  OK, whatever.  What about the medium old wooden storage chest?  Sure, I'll give $2 for it too.  Now they've identified me as a sucker, and even the auction staff is migrating.  Only Mr. Auctioneer and I.  Yes, I will give $2 for the baby one as well.

They aren't easy to store.  I can't leave them outdoors.  They aren't easy to sell.  And truthfully I am already sitting on one or two others.  But home with me they go.

I left the small and medium boxes blue.  Even though I am not a blue kind of gal.  This is the smallest one, it already had great handles and was painted white inside.  All I had to do was a little distressing and painting the lid. Of course I had to add license plates, which I am totally into for decoration.

It seemed like an appropriate time of year for some red, white and blue. 

I purchased the background gauzy cotton patriotic buntings at an auction a couple weeks ago, they are the coolest Americana items I have going.  Probably from WWII.  They will be on ebay soon.

This is the medium chest.

 

The baby has great rusty rollers.

 

It was a rainy morning,

so I also managed to produce several of these terra cotta pots as well.

 

FYI: According to several dictionaries, a "trunk" is a large case or box that can be used when travelling or for storage, whereas a "chest" is used only for storage.

 

 The huge wooden box I painted green, I won't go into the various reasons why.  Painted 1876 on the lid -- it was a fun centennial year (and won't look awkward if I still haven't sold it in August). 

I added rollers to make it a little more versatile, and handles on the sides.  We'll see how this small family of patriotic chests do in my booth.