Country Living Appraises Mid-19th Century Storage Chest: What's The Worth?

The value is nothing to sneeze at.

We're very excited to syndicate one of our favorite columns, 'What Is It? What Is It Worth?' from one of our favorite magazines, Country Living. All text and images below are provided by Country Living. Get ready to be surprised!

"I snapped up this small chest of drawers at an antiques shop. What can you tell me about my find? - E.A., Wellfleet, Massachusetts"

country living whats it worth

Mid-19th-Century Storage Chest

Professional appraiser Helaine Fendelman identifies and evaluates your collectibles and antiques.

WHAT IS IT?

Crafted of mahogany and pine, this piece relied on square nails as well as handmade dovetail joints for its construction, which suggests that the unit hails from the mid-1800s. The apothecary labels appear to have been added after the fact—and represent a range of potency. Innocuous herbs ("C:Canell" stands for cinnamon, used as a laxative) sit next to possibly lethal poisons, such as atropine. That said, the medicines stored represent a small portion of those employed by druggists of the era, so this 17-inch-high chest would likely have sat on a larger bureau or countertop. Apothecary antiques are incredibly hot right now; this petite treasure feels right on trend, snagging an impressive estimate.

What’s It Worth: $1,000

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