How to Age a Lane Cedar Chest

Lane cedar chests were marketed after World War I as “hope chests.” Young women would purchase a cedar chest and store items in it, such as wedding dresses and baby clothes in anticipation of marriage. Cedar chests are often handed down as an antique to the next generation because they last for many years and keep clothing and items in them dry and odor-free. As with any antique, the older the age is of a cedar chest means that it carries more value. You can determine your chest age in just a few minutes.

Microfiber cloth
Flashlight
Magnifying glass

Instructions

- 1
  Open the cedar chest lid and remove all items from the chest.
- 2
  Close the cedar chest lid and latch it if it has a latch to keep it closed.
- 3
  Turn the cedar chest over so the bottom is facing up and the top is on the floor. If your cedar chest has a rounded lid, lay the cedar chest on one side with the bottom facing you.
- 4
  Clean the bottom of the cedar chest with a microfiber cloth so you can see the production date that is stamped onto the bottom of the chest.
- 5
  Read the serial number backwards from right to left and put it in date order. For example, if the number is 366270, the chest was manufactured on 07/26/63. If there are seven numbers in the serial number it notes the plant where the chest was produced. For example, 2553150 would be made on 05/31/55 at plant number two.

How to Antique a Painted Dresser

How to Repaint an Old Dresser Sage Green

Bedroom Furniture