rockford cedar chest

What you paid for this one is about what they go for at auction these days, we often retail them for around $200.00 in ready to go condition. Chests like this were mass produced by a number of makers from about World War One onward.

Continental Desk Company was one of the premier furniture manufacturing companies of its time (1800's to 1930's). They were well known for their manufacturing of office furniture, tables, cedar chests, and they were located in Rockford Illinois. Rockford Illinois was considered one of the premier furniture manufacturing areas in the US because many Swedish immigrants had settled in this area at the time and had brought their woodworking skills with them.

Continental Desk Company cedar chests were typically made with Tennessee cedar. Our chest specifically appears to have been made around 1917 to the best of our knowledge, which makes it just a year or two from being an official antique; therefore we refer to it as vintage, but it could have been produced either earlier or as late as the 1930's. My research suggests that while many people sell theirs for less, if a store were selling our chest, the market value would be between $280 to $450 depending on the shop.

Yours appears to have an either walnut or mahogany veneer on the outside which I have been led to understand dates it prior to 1930, but I am not sure. Good luck