Vintage 1900s Rowntree's Motoring Chocolate Trunk

Product Description

A rare survivor from the earliest days of modern travel, this Rowntree’s motoring chocolate trunk dates to the dawn of the twentieth century, when the English countryside was first being crossed by horseless carriages. Produced by Rowntree’s of York, one of Britain’s most storied chocolate manufacturers, this compact trunk was designed for use by company salesmen on the road. Fitted with internal compartments and a fold-open lid, it served as both a traveling suitcase and a portable display case for chocolate samples. These trunks were often strapped to the back of early motorcars and used during sales tours to grocers, railway refreshment rooms, and country inns. At once practical and promotional, the trunk carried with it the aspirations of Edwardian innovation—mobility, modernity, and the refinement of British confections. Constructed from sturdy wood and canvas, reinforced at the corners, and marked with the Rowntree’s name, it reflects the golden age of merchandising when craftsmanship extended beyond the product to its presentation. Trunks such as this are exceptionally rare, especially in such intact condition, and offer a glimpse into the entrepreneurial spirit and branding elegance of early twentieth century commerce industrial history, this trunk is as much a conversation piece as it is a visual artifact. Ideal for display in a study, library, or merchandising collection, it embodies a time when chocolate was not simply sold but journeyed, one road at a time