Art Deco Cedar Chest Value Guide

This Art Deco Cedar Chest represents the 1930s Streamline Moderne aesthetic, characterized by its distinctive rounded barrel-style lid and highly figured veneers. Originally used as hope chests for young women, these pieces combined the functional insect-repelling properties of cedar with the sleek, geometric sophistication of early 20th-century American design.

What Is Art Deco Cedar Chest Worth?

The typical price range for Art Deco Cedar Chest is $250 - $350 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• Condition of the exterior veneer, as chips or lifting significantly reduce the $250-$350 market value.
• The presence of original keys and functional locking mechanisms, which are highly sought after by collectors.
• The intensity of the cedar aroma and the cleanliness of the interior storage compartment.
• Overall structural integrity, specifically regarding the hinges and the alignment of the curved lid.

How to Identify Art Deco Cedar Chest?

• Look for the characteristic rounded barrel-style lid synonymous with 1930-1940 Streamline Moderne furniture.
• Examine the exterior for highly figured wood veneers arranged in geometric or symmetrical patterns.
• Verify the interior is lined with aromatic cedar wood, designed specifically to repel moths and insects.
• Check for original hardware and labels from prominent mid-century American manufacturers like Lane or Cavalier.

History of Art Deco Cedar Chest

Cedar chests, often called hope chests, gained immense popularity in the early to mid-20th century. They were traditionally given to young women to collect household linens in anticipation of marriage, benefiting from the cedar wood's natural ability to repel moths and insects. This specific streamlined design was fashionable in the 1930s, reflecting the era's taste for sleek, geometric, and modern furniture forms.