How do I know if my old trunk is valuable?
Condition is a big factor to consider when valuing your antique trunk. Missing hardware pieces, broken slats, rust, large dents and other defects make a trunk unappealing for household use. Broken slats and missing hardware pieces can be replaced but will look “new” and out of place unless you can find original parts.
What are antique trunks worth?
The average canvas-covered, flat-topped trunk in ‘as-found’ condition (most of the canvas is there, handles are broken, tray inside, smells like mothballs, has someone’s name on the ends, some rust here and there) is worth about $100 to $200 un-refinished.
What are old trunks called?
There has been much debate and discourse on what these types of trunks are actually called. In some old catalogs, these trunks were called “packers”, and the “steamer” trunk actually referred to a trunk that is often called a cabin trunk.
What is the value of old steamer trunks?
This trunk is called a steamer wardrobe trunk and they can sell for $75 – $500 and up. Name brands usually bring in more money. Condition is critical for high price and it is not really easy to tell the true condition from pictures.
Are old hope chests worth anything?
Online auction sites, antique shops and secondhand stores often sell Lane cedar chests — based on their age, condition or rarity — starting at $99 and as high as $700 or more for older chests. But most chests, on average, are valued between $200 and $400.
Do they still make Lane cedar chests?
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.
What can I do with an old cedar chest?
- End of the Bed. The end of the bed is a classic use for cedar chests, not to mention, handy!
- A Catch-all – Organization Space.
- Window Seat.
- Children’s Toy Box.
- Plant Central.
- Filing “Cabinet”
- Decorative Blanket Storage.
- Restoration Project.
Are hope chests still popular?
The hope chest of the past, also called a wedding or dower chest, is still a popular piece of furniture, although it is no longer used in the traditional way.
Do girls still keep hope chests?
Historically, the term hope chest has been used to describe a large box designed for collecting and storing items for younger women to have when they get married later in life. They were most commonly used until the 1950s, but you can certainly still find a hope chest for sale today.
Why are hope chests dangerous?
The hope chests made before 1987 are dangerous because they auto-lock. Fourteen children have suffocated inside of them, including a 15-year-old girl from Reynoldsburg. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has warned of this danger for years.
Why do they call it a hope chest?
The hope chest has also been called a glory box, a dowry chest, and a bridal trousseau. In other words, a hope chest was a way for young ladies to prepare for the practicalities of marriage. Just as the father walking a bride down the aisle once had sexist connotations, so did the hope chest.
What items go in a hope chest?
Contents of a “hope chest” or “glory box” included typical dowry items such as clothing (especially a special dress), table linens, towels, bed linens, quilts and occasionally dishware. As a bride would typically leave home on marriage, hope chests were sometimes made with an eye to portability, albeit infrequently.
What age do you start hope chests?
Were they really useful and will we encourage our daughters to have a hope chest? My answer is a hesitant yes. When a young girl starts gathering items at the age of 13-15 (normally around the time a lot of girls start), she still does not have a mature perspective over how she will want her house to look.
How do you date a Lane cedar chest?
How old is my cedar chest? Usually Lane cedar chests have serial numbers that are stamped or applied to the bottom of the chests. You can read the serial number BACKWARDS to determine the production date. For example: serial number 753150 would have been produced on 05/13/57.
Are old cedar chests worth anything?
Old Lane cedar chests sell from $100 to about $700 depending on the age, condition and whether the hardware is original. Most are worth about $200 to $400. Cedar chests made before 1987 have lids that automatically latch shut when closed, which poses a suffocation risk to children.
How do I get a replacement key for a Lane cedar chest?
Consumers should have the chest’s serial and style numbers, which are branded on the outside bottom or outside back of the chest, available when contacting Lane. To order your replacement kit, contact Heritage Home Group at 800-327-6944, by email at by email at newlock@LaneFurniture.com, or on-line.
How much is a 1942 Lane cedar chest worth?
It’s in very good condition and has a lock. Most people will only pay around $125-175 for a cedar chest these days. There are many people who list these chests for $250-500 and when they are sold the selling price is much lower than the asking price.
How can you tell if a cedar chest is antique?
Examine the cedar chest for a maker’s mark or company name. In antique chests or newer high-quality chests, this mark is usually burned or stamped onto the wood; a few may have a paper tag. In the case of newer low-quality chests, there may be a sticker.