Cedar chests have been cherished heirlooms for generations, and their timeless appeal continues to captivate homeowners today. These beautifully crafted wooden chests offer both aesthetic beauty and practicality.
Yes, the Hope Chests are still very popular traditional furniture among the people. They can be used as a storage chest, wedding gift, or dower chest.
An old cedar chest's worth is based on its age, condition or rarity -- starting at $99 and as high as $700 or more. If the hardware is original then it is worth more and can fetch about $200 to $400. Find a collection of old cedar chests on 1stDibs today.
Cedar chests typically dry out the items that are stored within them, which is fine if it's clothing or paper. But you don't want a leather bag to dry out or it could become brittle and crack. Because of the potential for damage, it's best not to keep leather bags—or shoes or belts—in a cedar chest.
History and Significance of Cedar Chests
Traditionally used to store clothes and linens, they were treasured possessions passed down from generation to generation. Cedar wood was vital, as its natural oils acted as a natural insect repellent, protecting garments from moths and other pests.
Just take a 220-grit sandpaper and lightly sand the inside of the chest. The interior is unfinished so you can easily do that. Just make sure that you sand in the direction of the grain. A fine sandpaper sanded in the direction of the gain will work wonders to restore the aroma of a chest!
Although cedar lasts a long time under ideal conditions and treatment, it tends to degrade more quickly when it's used for ground-level decks, and if it's shaded, it will slowly dry out.
So we took the question to the experts who manufacture cedar chests, and here is what they had to say: It's OK to put photos in the chest as long as they are stored in an archival box with acid-free paper. Don't let the photos touch the wood itself, as it's acidic and could ruin the photos.
Thanks to cedar wood's amazing water resistance properties you don't need to fear mold growing inside of your chest. Decay resistant – Your cedar chest will not rot away with age.
Cedar wood is used for indoor furniture, particularly hope chests and blanket chests. With cedar's natural ability to keep bugs at bay, it's safe to store heirloom items inside a cedar chest like handmade quilts, blankets, clothing and keepsakes you've inherited.
Learn the age of your Lane cedar chest by examining the serial number. Read this number backward to determine its age.
After looking into this for you I was able to find comparable secondary market sales give your 1937 Lane Cedar Chest a current likely sale value of $130 - $175 at an auction or in a private sale. This is the amount that the same and similar items are currently selling for on the used market.
On the other hand, the aromatic cedar lining inside does not need to be sealed, and leaving it bare is the traditional approach. When that distinctive cedar smell fades, just scuff-sand it lightly to rejuvenate the aroma.
There's no one definitive answer to this question, as it depends on the specific cedar chest in question. However, some possible methods for unlocking a cedar chest without a key include picking the lock, using a lock pick set, using a bump key, or using a crowbar to force the chest open.
Handmade cedar chests are expensive mainly because of the time and care that is taken during the building process. Matching and gluing the boards together to make flawless panels for the sides, top, and bottom of the chest take a good bit of time.
First, open the chest and let it sit outside in the sunshine and fresh air for several days. This can help, but you might need to take additional steps to get rid of the odor. Lightly sand the wood inside the chest with a fine-grade sandpaper, which will release a fresh cedar smell.
Cedar chests are great for storing clothing, blankets, and delicate fabrics. Because the oil in cedar wood is an all-natural insect repellent that keeps moths and other pests at bay, you can store these items without worrying that they'll get damaged.
Use your cedar chest as a centerpiece for your living room décor. You can hang pictures above it and pillows on its top. You can place your cedar chest under a mirror and place flowers or pictures upon it as well.
Cedar is the more expensive of the two for several reasons. Pine is a more abundant wood because it's easier to grow and replenish. Cedar's higher durability also leads to suppliers charging more for that wood.
As cedar wood and it's oil are all natural, they are an excellent addition to your skin care and hair care routines.
Use A Wood Sealer
Using a wood sealer will also help maintain the fresh, clean aroma, all year long. Many uses for cedar wood include the outdoors, so it's important to seal the wood to protect it from the elements.
While these are all nice, cedar chests should be avoided when housing your artifacts; historic textiles; wedding dresses, christening dresses, or uniforms, or any other family heirloom. As wood ages, it gives off an acid, which in the museum world is called 'off-gassing,' that reacts poorly with other objects.