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My Cavalier Cedar Chest

Ranked #2,102 in Home & Garden, #25,875 overall

My Thrift Store Treasure Hunt Pays Off Big Time!

While clearing out my closets, I realized it would be very nice to have a cedar chest to keep my sheets and blankets in. Being a frugal person, I always check the thrift shops and antique stores first.

With only $50.00 in my pocket and my keen senses to guide me, I went from store to store without results. I resolved to go to one last store, where I found a lovely, but neglected, Cavalier Cedar Chest. It had been marked down from $150 to $100, which was still over my budget price.

Undaunted, I asked the store manager if they ever had sales or specials, and he answered yes, that day they were taking 50% off all items with yellow tags. We went back to the chest and lo and behold...it had a yellow tag!

I took my diamond in the rough back to the house, got on Google and found out some VERY happy, interesting news about my Cavalier Cedar Chest. I cleaned up the chest and it has a new home at the foot of my bed.

Hope you enjoy this lens, I had a lot of fun learning about the Cavalier line and its maker, The Tennesee Furniture Company.

This is my 'new' cedar chest when I first brought it home. 

Cedar Chest by Cavalier

The interior of this chest is nearly identical to mine. ~BadMsM
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What Are Some Tips For Restoring A Cavalier Cedar Chest?

From Cavalier- the Cadillac of Cedar Chests

*Periodically, you should empty the chest and gently rub the cedar lining with synthetic steel wool. This will remove oxidation and allow the fresh cedar oils to come to the surface.

*Have a locksmith disable the lock so that children cannot accidentally lock themselves in. This can be done in a way that does not mar the appearance.

Please understand that a child could indeed suffocate inside the chest because it has seals to keep air from getting inside. Temper your privacy with caution.

*Don't slam the lid!

Learn more at Cavalier- the Cadillac of Cedar Chests.

The original label, listing all the features of my Cavalier Cedar Chest. 

Find Out More About Antique Cedar Chests Like My Cavalier!

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There was some moisture damage to the finish on the base, but the wood was still sound. 

Cavalier Cedar Chest Resources

Cavalier Cedar Chests
Cavalier -- the Cadillac of Cedar Chests!
Cedar Chests Buyer's Guide
Touted as the "Cadillac of cedar chests," Cavalier chests feature a solid cedar core, and beautiful exterior design.
Cavalier Corporation Soda Machine Company
Originally starting as a sawmill, the Tennessee Furniture Company of Chattanooga opened in 1865.
Worthopedia - Price Guide: Cavalier Cedar Chest
Value your items by searching millions of prices from past sales and auctions.
Legacy Trunks.com: Vintage Carpenter / Wood Tool Box Photo Gallery
We sell Antique Steamer Trunk parts to restore / refinish your Trunk

The ugly, odd sized handle had to go! 

Most of the damage was cosmetic, which would make it easy to correct. 

When Was My Cavalier Cedar Chest Made?

From Cavalier- the Cadillac of Cedar Chests

Nobody knows for sure what the cryptic numbers on the bottom of the chest actually mean. The factory closed nearly 50 years ago and there were a lot of corporate takeovers that resulted in mass destruction of records. From my correspondence and about 8 years of collecting pictures from my readers, this is my "guess":

Serial numbers were on this general form:

ddd - aaayyxx
"ddd" refers to a "style"
aaa (3 letters) refers to the finish
yy is year
xx nobody knows -- could be day of the year (Jan 1 = 1, Dec 31 = 365), but it could be "week".

Learn more at Cavalier- the Cadillac of Cedar Chests.

From BadMsM:

My tag reads Pattern No. 591, Run No. 6695. Using the formula above, other than the obvious reference to pattern number, yy = 66, and xx= 95. If I assume that xx refers to the 95th day of the year, and 1966 was not a leap year, my chest would have been made on April 5, 1966.

The Cavalier logo usually takes the form of a Cavalier from reign of Charles IX. Mine is woodburned into the cedar. 

Find A Cavalier Cedar Chest Of Your Very Own!

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The inscription plate says the cedar chest was originally a gift to Gladys, from James 

Couldn't find a replacement for the handle, but fancy drawer pulls made a great substitute. 

What Do You Think About Cavalier Cedar Chests?

Share your comments and questions here

  • Teddi14 Aug 8, 2011 @ 11:35 pm | delete
    Love it. I love your new handles too. Very pretty.
  • CruiseReady Jun 13, 2011 @ 12:49 pm | delete
    You made an incredibly lucky find with this chest!
    I have a chest that is probably over 100 years old, and it shows. It spent a good deal of its life in my Mother's attic.
    I believe my grandfather made it.
  • tssfacts May 19, 2011 @ 8:38 am | delete
    It has been a long time since I have refinished a piece of furniture. I like the fact that history can be passed down along with a piece of furniture. You did a great job. Blessed by the SquidAngel of Furniture. You are featured on Home and Garden SquidAngel.
  • vallain Jan 12, 2011 @ 8:26 pm | delete
    What a great chest to store things in. My dad found a number of old cedar chests at yard sales over the years and restored them to give the grandkids for high school graduation.
  • mozingoj Dec 26, 2010 @ 11:02 am | delete
    Not lucky enough to own a Cavalier Chest but did just list a Cavalier Graduation Promo Plate on eBay
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Here's the completed project, at the foot of my bed. It looks great! 

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badmsm

Bette Miles-Holleman is a retail merchandiser, customer service analyst, model and stylist with over 25 years experience in the fashion... more »

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