
Where are Cavalier cedar chests made?
These Cavalier cedar chests were built from Tennessee red cedar by the Tennessee Furniture Company, based in in Chattanooga, Tenn., beginning in 1923. The Cavalier line and trademark was only used for cedar chests and iceboxes.
What kind of cedar chests were made in 1930s?
The lane company manufactured cedar chests in the Chippendale and Art Deco style (between the 1930s – 1940s). These chests had embellished woods with striking geometric shapes in inlay regions. Some had hinged shelving boxes inside the chest for storing items.
What does the label on the Cavalier cedar chest mean?
In mint condition, there is a paper label inside the lid; the central design has an oval inset with a man dressed as a Cavalier. The label lists sveral reasons why you get the best when you buy the Cavalier Cedar Chest.
How to determine the value of an antique cedar chest?
These worn out lines can be detected on the surfaces of the antique cedar chest or on the inside. To correctly estimate the possible market value for an antique cedar chest, you need to concern yourself with several interdependent factors.
What is a Cavalier chest?
What is a cedar chest used for?
Why did women keep their laces in their cedar chests?
When were unloved chests popular?
Where are Lane chests made?

How do you date a cedar chest?
0:141:09How Old is My Lane Cedar Chest? I tell you how! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNumber backwards. So this serial number says the number is two four eight two five zero if we readMoreNumber backwards. So this serial number says the number is two four eight two five zero if we read that number of backwards it'll give us the date of the piece.
What year is my 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.
When was cavalier furniture made?
Cavalier furniture was made in a company-owned factory located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The company began as the Tennessee Furniture Company of Chattanooga in 1865. In 1923, Gaston Raoul changed the name to Cavalier.
Are old cedar 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.
Where is the serial number on a cedar chest?
Locate the serial number usually printed on the bottom of the chest. One antique-lovers' site suggests that the exact date on a Lane chest can always be determined by reversing the three pairs of numbers that comprise the 6-digit serial number.
Is it OK to store quilts in a cedar chest?
Cedar chests are not ideal places to store your quilts. The acid from the wood can easily transfer to your quilt, causing discoloration and staining. But if a cedar chest is your only storage option or you really want to use the chest for this purpose, then slip your quilts into cotton pillowcases first.
How do you restore the outside of a cedar chest?
Apply stain to the exterior of the chest, using a paintbrush. ... Repeat application of the stain if the color is too light, until you achieve the intensity of color you desire. ... Apply at least two coats of a clear sealer, such as varnish, to protect the cedar from moisture and stains.Allow the chest to dry overnight.
How much does a Lane cedar chest weigh?
Overall Product Weight: 74.36lb.
How much is a solid cedar chest worth?
The short answer to the cost of a cedar chest is anywhere between $400 – $1,500 for quality build cedar chests. However, the above price range is affected by the size, the type of cedarwood, and the quality of the build.
What do you clean a cedar chest with?
Mild Maintenance– Furniture polish and furniture polish rag. Wipe down the exterior, wiping towards the direction of the wood grain. Moderate– Murphy's Oil Soap or White Vinegar (especially if there is mold or mildew spots). Use a lint free cloth, wring out excess moisture and wipe down the exterior.
What's the difference between a hope chest and a cedar chest?
Hope chest is the term for a trunk or chest design that is used for storing heirlooms, valuables and keepsakes. A cedar chest is a chest made of cedar, simply. A hope chest can be a cedar chest and vice versa.
Are cedar chests still popular?
Cedar chests have withstood the test of time and are still charming people's homes all over the world.
How do you clean an old cedar chest?
Mild Maintenance– Furniture polish and furniture polish rag. Wipe down the exterior, wiping towards the direction of the wood grain. Moderate– Murphy's Oil Soap or White Vinegar (especially if there is mold or mildew spots). Use a lint free cloth, wring out excess moisture and wipe down the exterior.
When were Roos cedar chests made?
In 1918, Edward Roos joined his cousins in Forest Park, where he built the first Roos cedar chest factory with a $100,000 investment. By 1928 the brick building on Harrison Street exceeded 85,000 square feet.
How do you restore the outside of a cedar chest?
Apply stain to the exterior of the chest, using a paintbrush. ... Repeat application of the stain if the color is too light, until you achieve the intensity of color you desire. ... Apply at least two coats of a clear sealer, such as varnish, to protect the cedar from moisture and stains.Allow the chest to dry overnight.
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Cavalier Cedar Chest Vintage 1940's Art Deco Style Two - Etsy
This is a great art deco style cedar chest. Made by the Cavalier company. From around the 1930s There is some wear on the wood due to its age. As you can see in the picture there is a piece of veneer missing about the size of a quarter on the hood of the trunk. And some heavy wear around the
Where was Chris' chest made?
Click to Enlarge. Miss Rusty writes to show us some photos of a chest made from Tennessee Red Cedar that was constructed in Rockford, Illinois (just West of Chicago) by the Continental Desk Company.
When did Janelle send us cedar chests?
In March of 2011, our reader Janelle sent us these photos of a cedar chest that was given to her. She writes:
When was the waterfall chest made?
The first set shows a Waterfall ( moderne) Cedar chest from the 1940s (as indicated by the brass badge). The secons set shows a cedar chest that is very similar that was made in the 1950s (as indicated by the woodburned makers mark). Waterfall Cavalier Cedar Chest Made in the 1940s.
Does a Cavalier chest have a lock?
One of our readers sent these photos to us. After some consideration, we decided that this was not a Cavalier chest, although the veneer is quite nice. First, the interior drawers used woods that were not Tennessee cedar and the chest does not have a combination lock. Cavalier chests of this period with this level of detail in Art Deco motifs almost always had a combination lock. Still, it's a tough call.
When did Jill send us photos of Jacobean chests?
In late January of 2010, our reader Jill from Boston sent us some "before and after" photos of a Jacobean chest that she restored. Here is what she wrote:
Is there a veneer over cedar?
Here are some photos of a more traditional Chest -- there is no veneer over the Cedar.
Is a Cavalier chest a fine art piece?
Cavalier Cedar Chests are built solid and are absolutely a fine work of art. The craftsmanship, time and effort put into creating a Cavalier Cedar Chest is second to none. ...". Tracy's Cedar chest. All 17 of her photos are on the Facebook Page. Click to Enlarge.
Who made cedar chests?
Different companies made cedar chests in various styles and shapes. The Lane company was famous for this.
How much is an antique cedar chest worth?
Generally, antique cedar chest can value at $99 to an average of $300-$400. For rare and decorative chests, the price can go as high as $700 if it still holds its original hardwares and is in pristine condition. However, to get the precise value of your antique cedar chest and ease the hasle of self-evaluation, you can seek the services of an expert appraiser
What style of chests did Lane manufacture?
The lane company manufactured cedar chests in the Chippendale and Art Deco style (between the 1930s – 1940s). These chests had embellished woods with striking geometric shapes in inlay regions. Some had hinged shelving boxes inside the chest for storing items. If you possess a Chippendale-styled antique cedar chest, you will notice its distinct ornate carvings and ball-and-claw feet.
How many cedar chests have no safety locks?
But, although several people took out the locks, it is estimated that over 6 million of the 12 million cedar chests produced within that timeframe still did not safety locks installed. Thus, the market value of an antique cedar chest without a safety lock would be higher as it shows an earlier manufactured design.
How to tell if a cedar chest is original?
One of the first sign that gives a clue to the originality of your antique cedar chest is the physical signature of the manufacturer. Antique cedar chests were produced by virtually every furniture maker. As such, there were physical signatures, engravings or trademarks to aid identification.
What type of wood is used in a cedar chest?
They used cedar to line the chest’s inners but used a variety of materials such as cherry and walnut for the exterior. You would often see detailed carvings that give the chest a phenomenal look. The lane company manufactured cedar chests in the Chippendale and Art Deco style (between the 1930s – 1940s).
Why were cedar chests popular?
However, in the 18th and 19th centuries, cedar chests were popularized because of their ability to repel insects and moths from beddings.
What is the label on a Cavalier Cedar chest?
In mint condition, there is a paper label inside the lid; the central design has an oval inset with a man dressed as a Cavalier. The label lists sveral reasons why you get the best when you buy the Cavalier Cedar Chest. Here is one of various labels from the 1930s, so identified by the typography as well as the hair and dress styles of the lady that is pictured.
How much does a Cavalier chest cost?
You can buy a Cavalier chest in excellent condition for somewhere in the neighborhood of $500 (depending on style). Vastly inferior new cedar chests cost even more. If you choose to have your chest restored by a professional, any expenditure over $500 is most likely based on sentiment, not investment value.
How much is a waterfall cavalier chest worth?
I have seen Waterfall Cavalier chests from the 1930s in good to excellent condition go for $500. Chests from the 1950s are worth a bit less. Here is an unusual 1930s chest with some minor damage in a not-so-attractive and definitely not authentic grey tone stain that was popular as "driftwood" in the 1950s. I questioned the owner and found out the original finish is very dark indicating that it may be a VERY Early Cavalier. ( Be warned, however, that Cavalier offered a "Limed Oak" finish which has a grey appearance (like Driftwood) -- so don't rush to refinish your grey Cavalier chests.) If this was truly NOT the original "limed oak" , a nice refinish and repair job wpould greatly enhance the value of this particular chest. I wish that something was left of the records of the Cavalier Co. so that I could accurately assign a date to this piece and to help you separate refinished pieces from actual Limed Oak piceces.
How to clean cedar lining?
Periodically, you should empty the chest and gently rub the cedar lining with sythetic steel wool. This will remove oxidation and allow the fresh cedar oils to come to the surface.
What was the furniture style of the 1930s?
In the early 1930s, furniture makers were very reluctant to move into the new Style Moderne or "Waterfall" genre , which was associated with cities, immigrants, and avant garde thinking. Much of the "Colonial" furniture in vogue at the time was Jacobean in origin; this style is more traditional, deriving from early New England pieces. No doubt that some of the Pilgrims packed their belongings in Jacobean chests that may have been cheap in Plymouth, being about 50 years old in 1620. In Colonial restorations like Sturbridge Village, they will note that the original chests didn't have legs and that when colonists prospered they added the legs so that you could dust under them. Sometimes, you can see applied decorations on the side that cover the holes where rope handles were attached to heft the things into the ships.
What is a hope chest?
Basically, the chest provides a place to store fabric articles so that moths won't get at them. However, the marriage-related themes on the paper labels indicate that most of these were used as a "Hope Chest." Typically, this would be a gift from parents to a young lady on or about her 14th birthday (or so). The young lady then began a quaint ritual of assembling items for her dream home and storing them in this chest. This would include works of knitting, embroidery and/or crochet, to be augmented by occasional silver place settings given on birthdays and holidays. When young ladies of the period gathered, items from the hope chest would be retrieved one-by-one and set the stage for grave and serious discussion of the idyllic home life to come. These dreams were embodied in the following advertisement placed in LIFE Magazine.
Is the Cavalier chest made of plywood?
It is NOT a chest made of plywood with a cedar veneer. Restoring the Cavalier Chest. I believe that the chest that I found had been thrown out because the veneer was completely missing from one end. There were also a number of scratches, but the piece was essentially complete.
What is a Cavalier chest?
Unloved Antiques: Cavalier Cedar Chests. This Cavalier cedar chest, in the waterfall design circa 1920, may be loved for its family history but with tens of millions produced for the last 100 years, collectors aren’t so crazy about them. Some items, even if in good shape and approaching the magical 100-year mark that turns a “vintage” item ...
What is a cedar chest used for?
Most of ?these cedar chests have solid cedar cores and were used as hope chests or linen chests. As long as the chest was well maintained, the cedar oil would keep moths from attacking the contents. Women often kept their detailed laces, embroidered material or fine wools in their cedar chests in order to preserve them from such pests.
Why did women keep their laces in their cedar chests?
Women often kept their detailed laces, embroidered material or fine wools in their cedar chests in order to preserve them from such pests. These Cavalier cedar chests were built from Tennessee red cedar by the Tennessee Furniture Company, based in in Chattanooga, Tenn., beginning in 1923.
When were unloved chests popular?
Being “unloved,” at least from the collectible standpoint, values for these chests tend to be rather modest—the reason being that they were a popular item produced in the millions from the end of the First World War and into the 1960s.
Where are Lane chests made?
The best known maker of chests of this type—Lane, located in AltaVista, Va.—never quit making them. Just on its own, the Lane company is estimated to have produced more than 14 million of them, the last rolling off its North America production line in 2001.
