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 1870s) 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.

Feel free to browse through different periods and styles and enjoy the timeless elegance of the different antique chests and vintage trunks available on the Love Antiques website.

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.

Antique Chest & Vintage Trunks FAQs

How much are antique chests worth?

Not every old chest for sale is antique, but if you go to a reputable antique dealer such as Love Antiques, you can find an antique chest for sale from £120-£12,000. An antique wooden chest’s value is greatly affected by style, size, material, condition and rarity, among others. The rarity as well as the style are the most important factors when it comes to determining the value of the antique furniture.

What is the history of wooden chests, storage trunks and boxes?

Wooden chests, trunks and boxes have long been used to store different items and for quite a while; the antique wooden trunk, antique wooden storage boxes, and antique wooden chest had been something you would commonly find in homes. From ancient Egyptians who used them in ceremonies, to the ancient Greeks and Romans who stored their belongings into these things. It was, however, in the Medieval and Middle Ages in Britain when wealthy nobles would own hundreds of these items for keeping clothes to hiding weapons.

How do you date an old vintage storage trunk or antique chest?

Whether you have an antique storage chest or some vintage storage trunks and chests, finding out the age is essential in valuing old furniture. It’s not enough that you identify the style to trace it back to a time period when it was popular, albeit you can check the styles of vintage wooden chests and vintage trunks for sale as well as their antique versions at Love Antiques for comparison. Take your item to a reputable expert who can assess the value as well as provide other information on your item.

What is a steamer trunk?

First appearing in the 1870s, this antique storage trunk was called a steamer trunk as it was stored in a steam ship cabin, albeit it was also boarded on a train or on a coach. Also called traveling trunk or cabin trunk, it either had slightly curved or flat top and was covered in patterned paper, canvas or leather. About 36cm tall and weighing as much as 100 pounds, these types of antique trunks were initially created as luggage for extended trips or for taking to boarding school.

How do I know if my antique trunk is valuable?

The best thing to do is to take it to an appraiser. You can find one online or you can go to nearby antique dealers to ask for recommendations. Antique trunks for sale are usually priced between £75 and £3,650, depending on a lot of factors. The item has to be in good condition and has less or no missing pieces and broken parts. Defects can greatly affect the price. The same goes for other pieces, such as an antique chest and a vintage storage chest. The more intact the original parts of the antique piece, the higher its value would be.