Furniture
Lane cedar chest, walnut, 1950s
The cedar-lined hope chest nearly every bride got in the 1950s, usually in a walnut or mahogany finish with a waterfall lid. They sell steadily as blanket storage and bench seating, though the heavy dark finishes and water rings hold the price down.
Estimated resale range (used)
$50 – $150
A ballpark, not a quote. Condition moves this number a lot, and so does who turns up to buy it. It isn't an appraisal and it isn't a dealer's offer.
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What matters when you check it
- Open the lid and smell inside, since a strong cedar scent and no mildew is what buyers are checking
- Look over the top and front edges for water rings, veneer chips and deep scratches
- Make sure the lid hinges and the lock or latch still work and the key is present if it has one
Where the number comes from
Watching what these go for, not a record of sales. The range is a judgement call from what the same thing fetches secondhand. When an item has real sources behind it, they'll be printed here with the date they were checked.
Before you sell anything, look at sold prices rather than asking prices. Asking prices are wishes; sold prices are evidence.