Antique Chests

History of Antique Chests and Trunks  

The earliest history of chest and trunks can be traced back to the medieval era. But it was not until the Victorian era (around the 1870's) when they became a popular piece of furniture used in many households. The start of their popularity also coincided with the construction of cross-country railroads, as well as intercontinental travel by water. This facilitated the spread of the trunks and chests to various parts of the world when used for travel purposes.  

Historically, trunks and chests were classed as two different pieces of furniture, although they are often confused with each other. Trunks were used more as luggage for storing items and moving them from one location to another. Meanwhile, chests were designed to be a fixed and permanent fixture at home. But they are both very similar and serve the same purpose when it comes to storing personal items or serving as a treasure chest at home (or used in transit). 

Over the years, there was a growing demand for this type of furniture that it was not uncommon to find antique chests UK dealers and sellers. Like most other Victorian pieces of furniture, they started out as simple objects that were handmade for a functional purpose. But over the years, chests were made out of a variety of materials that led to the spread of oak chest and pine storage boxes, among other types of wooden chest furniture.  

A Look into Different Types of Antique Chests for Sale at Love Antiques  

The different types of antique chest for sale in the UK at Love Antiques can be categorised based on style. The most common type is the flat-topped one, which is primarily used for travel. As the name implies, it comes with a flat top that makes it easy to stack on trains or carriages. This type of chest also has its variations, including those wooden trunk items, particularly pine trunk. There are also those made of leather or metal. 

Another common type of vintage chest comes with a dome top. These are also called round top or camel top chests and their dome shape provides extra storage. They can be used as a tool chest or blanket box. These types of chests are also made of embossed tin, although now you can find more in terms of the variety of materials used. And then there are those slatted antique trunks. They are a favorite among collectors because they exhibit fine craftsmanship. In the olden days, they are often used as travel trunks or what people then also called a steamer trunk. 

You can also choose an antique chest based on their origins. Doing this ensures that you add a piece of furniture that offers a distinctive style to your home. Love Antiques provides a wide variety of vintage chests, including those that are from Asia (mostly Chinese), France, Great Britain, and Italy. We have many options from the 19th century but you can filter the categories to find the period that you want in particular.  

Ready to Shop for an Antique Chest Online Delivered across the UK and Europe?  

Love Antiques is the best place for vintage trunks and chests UK has for sale. You can find all kinds of trunks and storage chests to match your storage needs at home or your interior decoration style. As we bring you the most comprehensive collection of storage chest and storage trunk products, you are sure to find a match for your home. To get started on shopping from our massive inventory, you can set up a buyer’s account. This process only takes a few steps and you can then purchase your favorite piece. 

As there are literally thousands of vintage chests available, you can filter your search into different categories such as type of antique chest, material, period, and origin. We make sure to authenticate all items listed on our antique dealer website so you can ensure that our antique trunks are genuine and worth your investment. For more questions on the authenticity and verification of our antique pieces, do not hesitate to contact us.