This chest, made of camphor wood, with brass corners and clasp, circa 1900, proudly displays the marks of age and a patina that only time can achieve.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, camphor chests were used to carry tea, silks and porcelain from China to European and American destinations. Women saw the beauty and versatility of the chests and used them for storage, displaying them in living rooms, sometimes more than one stacked on another. Camphor wood, with its wonderful fresh scent, is a natural repellent against moths and wood boring insects. Brass brackets and clasp adorn the corners and front.