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 CEDAR LANE CHEST BEAUTIFUL INTERIOR WATERFALL 1940S ALL ORIGINAL hOPE PICK UP $64.99 Time Remaining: 17d 18h 7m Buy It Now for only: $64.99 |
 Antique Vintage Art Deco 1939 Lane Cedar Hope Chest Sweetheart Waterfall No Lock $99.00 Time Remaining: 3d 16h 16m |
 Antique Art Deco Waterfall Lane Bedroom Cedar Blanket Hope Chest 1952 $249.00 Time Remaining: 9d 19h 51m Buy It Now for only: $249.00 |
 100 YEAR OLD Chas Passow Sons Antique Solid Cedar Bedroom Blanket Hope Chest $325.00 Time Remaining: 8d 13h 44m Buy It Now for only: $325.00 |
 ANTIQUE MAHOGANY CEDAR LINED BLANKET CHEST CONTINENTAL DESK CO BEDROOM HOPE $175.00 Time Remaining: 3d 7h 47m Buy It Now for only: $175.00 |
 Antique Hope cedar chest trunk $25.00 Time Remaining: 5d 6h 13m |
 VINTAGE ART DECO BROWN WOODEN HOPE CHEST CEDAR LINED SLIDING DRAWER ON BOTTOM $60.99 Time Remaining: 16d 6h 51m Buy It Now for only: $60.99 |
 VINTAGE RED CEDAR HOPE CHEST BLANKET TRUNK WOOD BOX $175.00 Time Remaining: 7d 14h 20m Buy It Now for only: $175.00 |
 1944 Lane Cedar Hope Chest $199.00 Time Remaining: 7d 11h 56m Buy It Now for only: $199.00 |
 Antique Hope Chest $300.00 Time Remaining: 24d 18h 56m Buy It Now for only: $300.00 |
 BIG Antique Vintage English Carved Oak Hall Bench Hope Chest Blanket Box Settee $1,150.00 Time Remaining: 4d 13h 6m Buy It Now for only: $1,275.00 |
 1947 Vintage Art Deco Lane Cedar Waterfall Hope Chest $310.00 Time Remaining: 19d 5h 20m Buy It Now for only: $310.00 |
 CEDAR HOPE CHEST $110.00 Time Remaining: 4d 18h Buy It Now for only: $110.00 |
 Antique Roos Solid Cedar Bedroom Blanket Hope Chest $350.00 Time Remaining: 28d 14h 44m Buy It Now for only: $350.00 |
 Hope cedar trunk chest mothers day special $210.00 Time Remaining: 2d 9h 44m |
 Large Early Walnut Blanket Hope Dowry Chest Dove Tail Sides Biscut Board Top $350.00 Time Remaining: 14d 17h Buy It Now for only: $350.00 |
 Antique Roos Walnut Bedroom Cedar Blanket Hope Chest $350.00 Time Remaining: 25d 18h 50m Buy It Now for only: $350.00 |
 VINTAGE ROOS HOPE BLANKET CEDAR CHEST w COPPER FITTINGS CASTERS $300.00 Time Remaining: 1d 11h 51m Buy It Now for only: $300.00 |
 VINTAGE DRESHER CEDAR LINED BRASS HOPE CHEST TRUNK MODERN LOCKING $350.00 Time Remaining: 3d 19h 51m Buy It Now for only: $350.00 |
 HOPE CHEST TOY CHEST $15.95 Time Remaining: 5d 3h 47m |
 ANTIQUE STEAMER TRUNK COFFEE TABLE BRIDES CHEST HOPE CHEST WITH KEY $275.00 Time Remaining: 1d 16h 59m Buy It Now for only: $275.00 |
 Lane Cedar Lined Hope Chest Oak Exterior $80.75 Time Remaining: 27d 7h 8m Buy It Now for only: $80.75 |
 1944 Lane Cedar Hope Chest $149.00 Time Remaining: 7d 11h 56m Buy It Now for only: $149.00 |
 Cedar Hope chest $180.00 Time Remaining: 16d 10h 52m Buy It Now for only: $180.00 |
 ANTIQUE GOLDEN OAK ART DECO FLORAL CARVED BLANKET QUILT HOPE CHEST TRUNK ON LEGS $199.95 Time Remaining: 5d 16h 28m |
 ANTIQUE STEEL WOOD STEAMER TRUNK OR HOPE CHEST $199.95 Time Remaining: 9d 3h 57m Buy It Now for only: $199.95 |
 Vintage Lane Mahogany Queen Anne Cedar Chest Hope Chest $599.00 Time Remaining: 5d 6h 46m Buy It Now for only: $599.00 |
 Vintage LANE Cedar lined Blanket Hope Chest with Shelf pick up in PA $299.00 Time Remaining: 6d 9h 35m Buy It Now for only: $299.00 |
 VINTAGE CEDAR HOPE CHEST $399.00 Time Remaining: 6d 5h 6m |
 Repro Ornate Victorian hallway mirror with hopechest storage $199.99 Time Remaining: 29d 15h 4m Buy It Now for only: $199.99 |
 Hope Chest Blanket Storage Cedar Chest Amish Made $260.00 Time Remaining: 3d 17h 3m Buy It Now for only: $260.00 |
 Art Deco Hope Chest $299.00 Time Remaining: 7d 7h Buy It Now for only: $299.00 |
 ANTIQUE ART DECO HOPE CHEST TABLE FREE SHIPPING $337.50 Time Remaining: 24d 14h 45m Buy It Now for only: $337.50 |
 Hope Chest $200.00 Time Remaining: 3d 15h 43m |
 REDUCED ANTIQUE HOPE CHEST BLANKET LINENFOLD OAK DRAWERS TABLE BED TRUNK TX $594.00 Time Remaining: 10d 13h 41m Buy It Now for only: $594.00 |
 Solid Cedar Large Hope Chest $699.00 Time Remaining: 23d 12h 25m Buy It Now for only: $699.00 |
 Huge Antique Hope Chest India Decorative Brass Dowry Chest on Wheels $1,450.00 Time Remaining: 5d 21h 52m Buy It Now for only: $1,450.00 |
 LANE HOPE CHEST MINIATURE 9X3X5 $5.99 Time Remaining: 6d 10h 48m |
 18th Century Scottish Oak Coffer Blanket Box Hope Chest Coffee Table Bench $1,650.00 Time Remaining: 23d 10h 24m Buy It Now for only: $1,650.00 |
 Upholstered Storage Bench Hope Chest in Brown Fuzzy Fabric $255.00 Time Remaining: 14d 2h 23m Buy It Now for only: $255.00 |
 Chinese Candlenut Wood Voyage Trunk Hope Chest Wedding Box Dowry Basket Bronze $1,540.00 Time Remaining: 6d 1h Buy It Now for only: $1,540.00 |
 Painted Hope Chest Dowry Chest Blanket Box dated 1869 $1,475.00 Time Remaining: 21d 15h 42m Buy It Now for only: $1,475.00 |
 ROOS SWEETHEART CEDAR HOPE CHEST $250.00 Time Remaining: 6d 15h 24m Buy It Now for only: $350.00 |
 Large 18th Century Dowry Chest Blanket Box Hope Chest $1,950.00 Time Remaining: 21d 19h 48m Buy It Now for only: $1,950.00 |
 Russian Hope Chest Blanket Box Dowry Chest ca1840 $1,750.00 Time Remaining: 9d 14h 7m Buy It Now for only: $1,750.00 |
 Late 18th Century Hope Chest Dowry Chest Blanket Box $1,875.00 Time Remaining: 21d 19h 49m Buy It Now for only: $1,875.00 |
Hope Chest
Hope Chest Heirlooms
Hope chests made in America were created from European styles in the 1600's and 1700's by wood workers formally known as cabinet makers. Some of the popular copied designs were taken from the Baroque Style, the Queen Anne Style and the Louis XIV Style. As time went by, these furniture makers began to create their own styles. These designs developed certain characteristics in different cities so that historians are able to state the city and sometimes the exact wood artisan of most hope chests. In some cities, some craftsmen would use only one type of foot style, joinery style, shell element design, certain stain colors and at times only one or two types of hardwood. Many of these wood chests are not signed or stamped by their creators.
Hope chests were highly valued by Early Americans, not only for their beautiful exteriors, but also for their strong construction. Many of the first hope chest furniture pieces were built to hold all of the necessary household items such as blankets, linen, clothing and kitchen items. Since all highly valued heirlooms that a family owned were also placed in these large wooden chests, many hope chests were made with drawers along the bottom or a tray which fitted onto the top lip for this purpose. Wedding dresses normally were placed in these special compartments since they were handed down for generations.
Mortise and tenon joinery was the first construction type used to create blanket chests. That was soon followed by dovetail joinery. Both construction types are extremely durable and long lasting forms of joinery. Most wood workers would agree that the glued joints of both of these joinery types are as strong as the wood itself, if not stronger. Every wood craftsman did pick a favorite joinery style for differing hope chest design styles. If he wanted to emphasize his corner construction, the wood artisan would have chosen dovetail joinery since it shows the detail of the hand chiseled cuts. If he needed a smooth looking edge for a painted design or carving design, the wood worker would have used mortise and tenon joinery.
Typically, in Early America, hope chests would be inscribed with the name of the person receiving the wooden chest along with the date of presentation. Many of these blanket storage chests were also given special designs either through carving or painting.The German immigrants that came to American in the 1700's and 1800's created the majority of the heirloom hope chests which are painted. Hearts, flowers, people on horseback and stars were favorite design elements. Some painted chest designs were hexes which would ward off evil spirits in the home. This was very important to many German immigrants. Hex designs range form the very simple to complex geometric styles. These blanket chests normally had the date of construction either on the outside or the inside of the lid.
These hope chests were considered too elaborate by other groups of people due to construction preferences or religious backgrounds. The Amish, the Shakers and the Mennonites,to name a few, developed styles that emulated their simple lifestyle. All of their furniture pieces were simple in style and construction without trying to create a 'beautiful' hope chest. Interestingly, modern day furniture collectors view these simple styles to be of much greater beauty than the elaborate styling of other hope chest makers in America.
Heirloom hope chests have retained their place in America over the years as cherished furniture to be handed down to the next generation and also for their great beauty. Blanket chest furniture is very versatile in placement and can be found in many areas of the home since they are showcase furniture pieces.
About the Author
I recommend Blanket Chest Heirlooms.com as a place where you will find the best in handcrafted hope chests made with lasting joinery styles created from solid hardwoods. Their beautiful hope chests have stain options and many styles from which to chose to fit your decor needs.
Refinishing a hope chest... wood work?
I'm taking my big hope chest ( about 5 ft by 2 1/2 ft) from my mother's house to finally keep it in my own.
The thing is, when she first built and gave it to me, she painted it white. I want to refinish it and have the original wood stained. What would be the best way to go about doing this?
Step 1: Ask mom what she made it out of. If she used plywood or particle board, you'll be happier re-painting.
Step 2: Removing old finish - Sanding vs Stripping
If the surfaces are relatively smooth and there isn't too much detail/carving, then sanding is the best method. It has the advantage of avoiding chemicals which have to be neutralized and wood that has to be allowed to dry. There are tons of sanding products (paper, blocks, dremel attachments, electric sanders, etc...) to get the job done. Just take your time and work from rough grit to fine grit to get a nice smooth surface.
If the surface is very detailed/carved, this is the only time I would consider a chemical stripper. You will need to neutralize the stripper after you remove all the residue or it will ruin your new finish. And you must let the wood completely dry before starting to re-finish it. And even after using a chemical stripper, you need to sand the entire surface to smooth out the grain.
Step 3: Stain
Pick a tone you like, there's no right or wrong here. Just be aware that stain looks different on different types of wood. If you know what the piece is made of, it is easier to make choices using the displays at the store. If you're not sure what type of wood it is, then buy the smallest can possible, take it home and test it on a hidden area on the piece. (You can always sand it back off if its not quite right.)
Stain is best applied with brushes or rags. Just take your time and wipe off any excess to get an even finish. Apply 2-3 thin coats and sand lightly in between with very fine grit paper to smooth the grain each time.
Step 4: Topcoating
Again, lots of options - lacquer, polyurethane, polycrilic, oils. For most people, polyurethane is the norm. Lacquer takes some practice to get a nice finish. Oils have to be reapplied frequently to keep the new look. Polycrilic is a water-based alternative to polyurethane, but my experience has been that it tends to hold air bubbles from the brush more than polyurethane and requires more sanding and more coats to get the same look.
For the best results with polyurethane, apply in thin coats using a brush and sand lightly in between coats. Reposition the piece so that you are always applying the poly on a horizontal surface. This means moving the piece around more, but you avoid runs and drips and it allows any bubbles to rise to the surface and disappear.
Have fun with your project. It likely won't be your last.
How to Build a Hope Chest - 1