Antique 1950's Solid Camphorwood Chest With Metal Hardware

Gorgeous solid Camphorwood antique chest. Features the original aged metal hardware and dovetail detailing. Has the old iron staples for the hinges and decorative handles. This chest is oversized and in great condition. Came from a beautiful estate in Portland and has small separation in the wood top but it does not affect the integrity of the piece but only adds character. Camphor Wood is known to fight moths, stuffy noses,and keeps your silver shiny. Camphorwood (Cinnamomum camphora), native to China, Taiwan, as well as Japan, was reserved for sacred ceremonial items, such as the Chinese mu-yu drum used in temples. Eventually it flourished in foreign trade as it was regularly sought after by ship captains and other seafarers to turn into chests to ward off moths. Perhaps it was sawyers cutting camphorwood who discovered that its scent also opened up stuffy noses. Word of camphorwood's reputedly powerful medicinal properties spread to Europe and America, and soon even common folk considered it a cure-all. Indeed, the medicinal compound called camphor, refined from the tree bark, eventually found its way into ointments for the relief of muscle spasms and nasal congestion. Today, chemical substitutes replace much natural camphor, but stiff competition still erupts between lumbar buyers and drug manufacturers when camphorwood comes up for sale. While you won't find camphorwood at lumberyards, it occasionally finds its way to dealers of exotic woods. If you happen upon some, you'd be wise to work it into a silverware chest -- camphorwood keeps silver from tarnishing. This camphor wood chest is rare to find and is in impeccable shape. It has a long crack on the lid which does not affect the integrity of the piece but adds character. The color of the camphor wood is a very warm rich brown which fits with any home decor colors. It makes a charming home decor piece as a coffee table, side table, storage unit etc. Measures - 37" L X 24.5" W X 16.5" H