Antique Trunk Restorations, Sales & Research since 1972
We have become the leading trunk restorer in the southeastern United States because of our dedication and attention to detail. We restore, research and sell antique trunks.
We (and many pleased customers) consider Treasured Chests a unique enterprise for many reasons.
We are small enough to give a personal touch to our work and to our customers. On the other hand, we are big enough to furnish or at least find just about any type of antique trunk or chest you may need, whether it be for home furnishings or such things as movie props.
We have always specialized in research, restoration and sales of antique trunks and chests (and sometimes other unique antique items), no other major antiques or merchandise, not even parts or supplies (we can recommend sources though). This is the only way we can do the best job possible with these important antiques.
We love our work and what we’re working with. We love opening up new worlds for people and seeing them fall in love with these very important jewels of history. We gladly share our knowledge of antique trunks and chests with the public almost every day. Much more info can be found in our books on CD and Kindle.
Over the years we have built up a very supportive and loyal customer base, one that not only grows but stays faithful to us because it’s well known we do the very best job of restoring antique trunks and chests. We value this trust and vow to keep earning it.
How Our Trunks of Old Are Used in Today’s World
1. Gifts: Each of our trunks is very much an individual with its own personality, style & history. This is something you just can’t buy in any shopping mall.
2. Tables: Flat top trunks can be used as almost any kind of table, coffee table, end table, night stand with storage.
3. Foot of a bed: Nearly any trunk looks good here but the more decorative ones look exceptionally nice.
4. File cabinet: We can convert any trunk large enough to accommodate a file rack into a file cabinet for you-no charge. Just tell us which-letter or legal size.
5. Printer and copier stands: Go ahead, dress up the office a bit, lots of our customers have with our flat top trunks.
6. Instant heirloom: Many families have bought several trunks from us to give to their children to pass on down to their heirs.
6a. Instant heirloom toy chests: One father in Idaho recently bought a third (UPDATE: fourth) toy chest from Treasured Chests for the family’s fourth child due any day now. In his words “Each chest was basically my gift to each child at their birth as a way to give them something that is fairly unique and in the hope that it will be something they will ‘treasure’ throughout their lifetime.” We filled one order placed by an expectant mother in Vermont for a toy chest for her son’s nursery.
7. Hide that recycle bin: A local customer just bought one of our as-is flat tops to house her recycle bin on her back porch.
8. TV table: We just sold a flat top that’s going to hold the family’s TV in their den.
9. Storage for irreplaceable items: A customer recently stated that her most precious possessions – photo negatives of her daughter, are stored in one of our restored trunks and in case of fire or flood, that would be the most important item in her home to save. From another: I live in New Orleans, LA. I keep all of my irreplaceables (christening gown used by every member of my family since 1934, etc.) inside that trunk. Whenever we have to evacuate, my husband knows that if nothing else, the contents of the trunk go with us. We don’t take the trunk itself as it weighs a ton even when empty! Otherwise it is used daily as a table.
10. Props: Our trunks can be used for video and still photography, historical reenactments, stage productions, and other forms of entertainment. We can furnish them as-is or restored to your needs.
10a. Hollywood & Broadway: One of our trunks is used in the Broadway play “Country Girl” with Morgan Freeman. Five other trunks of ours were used in the movie “The Hateful Eight”.
11. As Luggage: A Treasured Customer recently purchased a Cedarobe wardrobe trunk to be used as luggage on the Queen Mary II. One of our slightly smaller trunks came to us as luggage from Hawaii via airliner. UPDATE: It just sold as-is to become a photo prop.
12. To Make a Living: Our Schell doctor bags are being used by medical doctors, computer doctors, piano tuners and others.
13. A kindergarten teacher is using one of our wardrobe trunks in her classroom when the children act out plays in costume.
14. Your use? Have a favorite use that you’d like to share with the rest of the world? Just email it to us and we’ll post it.
Comments From Just a Few Of Our Treasured Customers
“I absolutely love my trunk. It is beautiful and so well restored, just beautiful work. It is such a beautiful trunk, even better than I imagined it would be. The packaging was excellent and kept it safe and sound all the way here. Thanks so much for the care you put into it, it is going to give me many years of enjoyment.”
Claire in Toronto, ON
“Was so excited today to receive the Trunk Treasure CD. I think I could spend hours and hours just looking and reading. I am currently working on a project to turn half of my finished attic into a trunk room…Your CD has so much information……Thanks for a great resource.”
N. W. Covington, IN
“The (doctor) bag came Weds. and was eagerly opened. I was very pleased at its condition. I never thought that I would find another to replace my original bag that I started using in 1984 to carry my piano tuning tools. Thank you”
Mathew in CA
“I would just like to thank you and your staff for a wonderful stage coach trunk. The seashell embossed finish along with the old west look fits great in my study. Your finishers do a great job in preserving the old world look. It was a pleasure talking with you and getting a great education as well as making a purchase from you.”
Mark-Treasured Chests customer from N.Y.
“On Wednesday afternoon I was finally able to breathe as the UPS driver unloaded my trunk. I certainly wasn’t prepared for what was underneath all that packaging and I gasped when the trunk was finally unveiled. It shone like a chest of gold, it was more precious then I could even imagine. The pictures certainly did not do this extravagant piece any justice. It was so beautiful and stunning that I was scared to touch it and stood there staring at it for what seemed like hours. THANK YOU so much for your wonderful and very friendly service. You were a pleasure to deal with and it is so reassuring that there are actually trustworthy merchants as yourself still left in this world. You really made this a pleasant and exciting experience for me!! Thank you again and I will certainly recommend you to anyone interested in these exquisite pieces of art.”
T. M. in Toronto, ON
“Our trunk arrived yesterday exactly as promised. It is absolutely gorgeous.
I can certainly tell how many caring, skilled hours went into what is now,
truly, an amazing work of art……Thank you so much…..I decided that it is the one material possession in our house that would need to be saved in case of fire or flood besides the photo negatives of my daughter, so my sister suggested storing the negatives right inside the trunk — an excellent suggestion! It was a sincere pleasure doing business with you! All the best to you and your business.”
L. G. in Arlington, WA
“It has been a real pleasure dealing with you. Not only is your quality of workmanship outstanding, but your follow through on every detail of communication was AMAZING …….I can’t wait to show our friends and refer them to you. This is one of the most pleasant and utterly easy purchases I have ever made. Keep up the fabulous work and thanks again!”
T., Palos Verdes Estates, CA
“I received the trunk and it is beautiful. I am very pleased with it and the job you did. All the fears I had about sending something that meant so much to us so far away are gone. We had intended to keep this in our guest bedroom, but now that it’s here we want everyone to see it so it will go in our family room.”
H., Maplewood, MN
“I want to let you know how I appreciate what a wonderful experience working with you is. You made the whole process easy and fun. I love how the trunk turned out, it looks just perfect in its spot next to our couch in the family room. My husband is really pleased with it too. I’ll have to send you a picture of the trunk in its new home.”
M. H., Bend, OR
“What a great looking trunk….. It is good to know that in our cold and impersonal world, there are people like you who care about their business and make other people’s world a better place.”
M. C., Frisco, TX
“I really don’t know where to begin to tell you how much I love the trunk. Thank you so very much for the quality of workmanship and the wonderful job you did. When I am … settled in a new home, with my old trunks, I will send each of them to you in turn for a wonderful restoration.”
L. A., Chicago, IL
“I have never been more pleased with any purchase I have made online. Sometimes buying things over the Internet can be scary, especially when it is a large purchase. But you really set my mind at ease. When the trunk arrived it was in outstanding condition, it was so well packed and cared for. There were no chips or scratches. I recommend to anyone in the market for an antique trunk to buy it from you, the personal service is outstanding and the quality and craftsmanship is impeccable.”
T. L., South Pasadena, CA
“I was bowled over when I first saw the toy chest on your site…I couldn’t wait to buy it! About a week later, I received a large well-packed box. When I unwrapped the chest, I realized that this was one of the best Internet purchases I had ever made. You did a wonderful restoration job because you made the chest better and safer and yet preserved the patina. I have the chest near my front door (it stores shoes instead of toys) and everyone comments about how neat it looks. It is clear that you take great care in restoring chests and in making sure your customer is happy.”
“The flat top trunk today arrived in good condition and it’s perfect. Thanks again for your prompt attention to the shipment. Keep up the good work!”
R. B., Edwardsburg, MI
“Hello! The trunk arrived this afternoon. Wow! What a great and thorough job you did to restore this wonderful trunk; your care shows in every detail. I am VERY satisfied. You and your family are performing a wonderful service by rescuing these lovely reminders of a vanished past.”
D. M., Southfield, MI