Vintage Trunks and Chests
Are you searching for a storage solution that’s not only practical but also beautiful? Here at Shimu, we offer a wide range of elegant vintage wooden chests and trunks for storage in a selection of designs including antique pieces and handcrafted reproductions. Whether you’re looking for a place to store books, clothes, bedding or children’s toys, our collection of vintage chest and trunk storage solutions offers style and elegance for your home.
Original Vintage Storage Trunks and Chests
Offering a unique solution to bedroom or living room storage, our range of antique storage trunk chests is available in an ever-changing selection of styles, sizes and designs. From richly decorated wooden trunks, painted with designs from Chinese folklore, to old chests and trunks finished in traditional lacquer, our range of antiques has something for everyone.
Storage chests and trunks have been an important part of Chinese home life for centuries. These wonderful pieces would have been given as wedding gifts and then passed down through the generations; appreciated for their unique appearance and the practical, secure storage they provided.
Each of our antique trunks and chests has been carefully chosen and sourced by Shimu directly from China. If necessary, pieces are lovingly restored by highly skilled craftsmen who use traditional joinery techniques to return them to their former glory. Because each antique is unique, no two pieces are the same and this simply adds to their character and charm. If you’re looking for an unusual, timeless centrepiece for your living room or bedroom, choosing an antique storage chest trunk offers a wonderful way to bring a unique touch of Chinese history into your home.
Antique Trunks for Sales
Our collection of antique trunks for sale offers a wide range original storage trunks and chests imported directly from China. From simple ‘country-style’ pieces designed to showcase the natural beauty of hardwood, to richly decorated and lacquered trunks enhanced with painted designs, our range has something for all homes and interiors.
Our antique Chinese trunks offer a glimpse into both domestic life and long distance trade of past centuries. Made from hardwoods such as elm, camphor and pine, these trunks were built for resilience and longevity. They were used to store clothing, bedding, documents and valuables, serving as both practical objects and symbols of household status.
Many antique trunks were lined with camphor wood, valued for its fragrance and natural resistance to insects. Brass fittings were common, providing strength while also displaying decorative motifs. Lock plates, hinges and corner mounts often carried auspicious symbols such as bats, clouds or flowers, linking the trunk to wishes for prosperity and protection.
Regional styles varied, in northern provinces, for example, large rectangular trunks with bold ironwork were favoured. Southern examples were sometimes smaller and lighter, suited to more humid climates. Lacquered finishes were also used, producing glossy surfaces that preserved the wood while adding elegance.
From the Ming dynasty onwards, trunks accompanied travellers and merchants along trade routes. They held goods, silver and textiles, and in some cases served as dowry chests. Their mobility meant they carried not only possessions but also stories of movement and exchange.
Nowadays, antique trunks make an unusual and eye-catching storage option for contemporary homes. Offering plenty of space within a neat rectangular or square shape, versatile trunks and chests can also be used as coffee tables or side-tables. Or why not place one at the end of your bed or on the landing as storage for bedding and bath towels?
However you plan on using your antique Chinese trunk, you’ll find it becomes a much-loved and indispensable part of your home that you’ll treasure for many years to come.
You’ll find that here at Shimu our ever-changing collection of original antique trunks for sale includes a wide range of unique pieces. From tall document chests and travel chests made from scented camphor wood, to painted opera chests and blanket chests, our range of antiques offers a wonderful choice of beautiful trunks for your home.
Original Vintage Storage Trunks and Chests
Offering a contemporary alternative to our vintage collection, our newly made chest and trunk storage pieces are handcrafted by skilled craftsmen. Many of our newly made pieces are in designs which replicate antique originals, whilst others are in simple designs, perfect for modern homes and interiors.
With a wide range of sizes and designs to choose from you’ll be spoilt for choice! So, whether you’re searching for a chest or trunk to store clothes or bedding, or to use as a stylish coffee table in your living areas, our collection offers a wide range of superb quality pieces, all made from solid timber.
Shop for Vintage Chest and Trunk Storage at Shimu
Shopping with Shimu is easy as we offer convenient buying options to suit your individual requirements. Our entire range of furniture, homewares and accessories is available to buy online for direct delivery to your home. Alternatively, why not browse in person and visit our light and airy showroom which is located in Albion Mills, Greengates, Bradford?
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