The last Lane
Learn the age of your Lane cedar chest by examining the serial number. Read this number backward to determine its age.
In 1922, they switched the name to Lane Furniture Company and continued making cedar chests until 2001. They expanded to other types of furniture in the 1950s and continued to make furniture under the Lane brand until 2022.
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.
How much your Lane cedar chest is worth depends on its age, style, condition and other factors. According to online sales information, the average selling price of Lane cedar chests is $200 to $400, but some pieces may be worth more or less.
I see a lot of chests on line, and due to the fact that shipping is so high, they are not selling. I recommend for selling: Offerup.com (local), Varagesale.com (local), Wanelo.com, decluttr.com, Bonanza.com, Ioffer.com, Etsy.com, eBay and letgo.com (local).
Today, hope chests are more often used to store heirlooms. While they are not commonly used as a dowry payment anymore, many cultures, like the Amish, use hope chests as a gift to a young couple. Mothers will often add family treasures to the chest.
Miniature Lane cedar boxes are iconic American symbols of “days-gone-by”, “remember when” and “back-in-the-day.” Lane, mostly know for cedar hope chests, manufactured and distributed an estimated 27 million miniature boxes from 1925 to 2004 and their innovative Girl Graduate Plan was one of the most successful ...
To read Lane Furniture serial numbers, look from right to left. The first two numbers represent the month, and the second two tell you the day. Examine the last two numbers to find out the year of production. For example, a serial number that reads 189280 indicates a piece made on August 29, 1981.
Lane Furniture includes serial numbers on its items. To determine the date an item was produced, read the serial number backwards to spell out the day, month and year. Shop a collection of expertly vetted Lane furniture from some of the world's top sellers on 1stDibs.
Most chests produced by the manufacturer feature solid cedar wood interiors finished with five layers of walnut veneers. Legs and molding are usually some variety of solid hardwood but not always cedar.
Lane chests are meticulously made with 5 layer/ply veneer on the tops or any drawers, doors, etc.. The legs and moldings are solid wood and the interior is of course cedar wood.
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.
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.
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.
The last Lane cedar chest to be manufactured in the United States rolled off the production line in the summer of 2001, and the plant closed for good. Families across the United States may still use or possess a antique Lane Hope Chest in their homes.
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.
The company made headlines in November when it abruptly shut down and let its nearly 3,000 employees go. That prompted Wells Fargo and two other creditors a month later to file court documents to make United/Lane file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
To tell how old a cedar chest is, look for a stamp or label that indicates the maker's name. In some cases, you may find a date printed on the label.
Eastern Red (Aromatic) Cedar
It grows throughout the eastern United States, usually to heights of just 20' to 40', though some trees reach 100' or taller. Most people refer to this wood as "aromatic cedar" because of its pungent natural oils, and use it to line closets and hope chests to ward off insects.