If you grew up in a house with one of those heavy, sweet-smelling wooden trunks at the foot of the bed, you already know the vibe. It’s that scent. That specific, sharp, earthy aroma of Eastern Red Cedar that hits you the second you lift the lid. Most people call them "hope chests," but for a specific generation of collectors and homeowners, the princess cedar chest by lane is the absolute holy grail of mid-century storage.
It wasn't just furniture.
For decades, getting a Lane chest was a rite of passage for young women. Maybe you got one for high school graduation, or perhaps your fiancé bought it to store linens, quilts, and "dreams" before the wedding. Honestly, it sounds a little dated now, but the craftsmanship was anything but flimsy. Lane, based out of Altavista, Virginia, turned the humble cedar box into a global powerhouse of furniture design. But there is a massive difference between a standard Lane chest and the "Princess" models, and if you're looking to buy one on the secondary market today, there are some serious safety issues you have to know about first.
The Design Evolution of the Princess Style
What actually makes it a "Princess" chest?
Usually, when people talk about the princess cedar chest by lane, they are referring to a specific silhouette that emerged in the late 1930s and peaked in popularity through the 1950s. These weren't the clunky, flat-topped boxes of the Victorian era. The Princess line was sleeker. It often featured a slightly raised base with elegant, scalloped "bracket" feet. You’ll notice a distinct lack of heavy ornamentation; instead, the beauty came from the veneers. Lane was obsessed with using walnut, mahogany, and even bird's-eye maple to wrap the exterior, while the interior remained 3/4-inch thick aromatic cedar.
It was high fashion for the home.
Some models featured a "self-rising" tray. You open the lid, and a small felt-lined compartment for jewelry or small keepsakes automatically lifts up toward you. It’s a mechanical detail that feels incredibly tactile and "analog" in a way modern flat-pack furniture just can’t replicate. You can tell a genuine Princess model by its proportions—they tend to be a bit more compact, designed to fit into smaller "starter" bedrooms or under windowsills.
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The variety is actually staggering. Lane produced thousands of designs. Some have faux drawers on the front to look like a dresser (we call these "lowboys"), while others are starkly minimalist. If you find one with a serial number stamped on the bottom, you can actually read it backward to find the production date. For example, a serial number like 556210 means it was made on October 12, 1956. Simple, right?
The 1996 Recall: The Part Nobody Wants to Talk About
We have to get serious for a second. There is a dark side to these vintage beauties.
In 1996, Lane Furniture issued a massive recall affecting roughly 12 million cedar chests manufactured between 1912 and 1987. Why? Because the locks were too good. The original design featured a latch that automatically locked the lid when it was closed. You didn't need a key to lock it; you just pushed the lid down.
Tragically, children playing hide-and-seek would climb inside, the lid would click shut, and they would be trapped in an airtight, soundproof box. Multiple children suffocated over several decades.
If you own or are buying a princess cedar chest by lane, check the lock immediately. If it clicks shut without you turning a key, it is a death trap. Period. The good news is that United Furniture Industries (the successor to Lane) spent years sending out free replacement "safety locks" that require a manual turn to engage.
Don't risk it. Even if you don't have kids, a visiting relative or a pet could be at risk. Most collectors simply unscrew the strike plate from the lid entirely. It ruins the "original" feel, sure, but it saves lives. Safety isn't optional with vintage furniture.
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Valuing Your Chest: Is It Actually Worth Anything?
I see this all the time on Facebook Marketplace. Someone lists a "Rare Vintage Lane Chest" for $1,200.
Honestly? It's probably worth $150.
Value is a tricky thing with these pieces. Because Lane made millions of them, they aren't exactly "rare" in the traditional sense. However, the princess cedar chest by lane can fetch a premium if it’s in a specific style. Mid-Century Modern (MCM) designs—the ones with tapered "pencil" legs and clean, geometric lines—are currently the most expensive. If you have an Art Deco model with waterfall edges and intricate wood inlays, you're looking at a higher price point.
- Standard 1970s models: $50 - $150. These are everywhere.
- Princess/Traditional models in good condition: $200 - $400.
- Danish Modern/MCM styles: $500 - $800+ depending on the designer.
Condition is everything. Cedar is an oily wood. If the chest was kept in a damp basement, the veneer will start to "bubble" or peel away from the cedar core. Repairing veneer is a nightmare and usually costs more than the chest is worth. Also, check the aroma. If you open it and it doesn't smell like anything, the wood has "sealed" itself. You can usually fix this with a light sanding (use 200-grit sandpaper) to reopen the pores of the cedar. Never, ever use wood oil or polish on the inside of the chest. You’ll ruin the aromatic properties forever.
How to Spot a Fake (Though They Rarely Exist)
You don't really see "bootleg" Lane chests. It wasn't worth the effort to fake them. However, you do see people mislabeling other brands as Lane.
Standard brands like Cavalier or Caswell-Runyan made similar chests, but they don't hold the same resale value. A real Lane chest will almost always have a brand mark burned into the wood inside the lid or on the bottom. Look for the "Altavista, Virginia" stamp. If the logo looks like a little cedar tree or a stylized "L," you’re in the clear.
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One thing to watch out for is "married" pieces. This is where someone takes a Lane lid and puts it on a non-Lane box, or replaces the original legs with modern ones to make it look "more MCM." Check the wood grain. The grain on the legs should generally match the grain of the body. If the legs look like cheap pine and the body is rich walnut, someone’s been tinkering in their garage.
Caring for Your Investment
So you bought one. Now what?
The biggest mistake people make is putting these chests in direct sunlight. The UV rays will bleach the wood finish in a matter of months, turning a deep, rich mahogany into a sickly, faded orange. Keep it away from radiators, too. Extreme heat cycles cause the wood to expand and contract, which leads to the dreaded veneer cracking.
To clean the exterior, a damp microfiber cloth is usually enough. If the finish is dull, a high-quality paste wax (like Briwax) is much better than those spray-on supermarket polishes that contain silicone. Silicone creates a film that makes it nearly impossible to refinish the piece later if you ever want to.
On the inside, just keep it dry. If the cedar scent starts to fade, don't panic. Just sand it. If it still doesn't smell, you can buy a small bottle of pure cedar essential oil and rub a tiny drop into an inconspicuous corner. It’s like a recharge for your furniture.
Why the Princess Model Still Matters
In a world of fast furniture and disposable IKEA wardrobes, the princess cedar chest by lane represents a time when things were built to last a century. It's a heavy, soulful piece of furniture. It carries the weight of history—literally and figuratively. Whether you’re using it to store heirloom quilts or just as a bench at the end of your bed to pull your shoes on, it adds a layer of texture to a room that "modern" furniture just can't touch.
Actionable Next Steps for Owners and Buyers
- Check the Lock: If your chest was made before 1987, examine the latch. If it locks automatically, go to the Lane Furniture website or contact their consumer support line to see if replacement safety parts are still available, or simply remove the latch hardware yourself with a screwdriver.
- Verify the Date: Flip the chest over or look at the bottom. Read the serial number backward to find out exactly when your piece was made. This is a great way to verify if it’s a true vintage "Princess" or a later reproduction.
- The "Scent Test": Open the lid. If there's no smell, grab some fine-grit sandpaper and lightly sand the interior walls. If it still smells musty rather than woody, you may have a mold issue that requires professional cleaning.
- Market Check: Before selling, look at "Sold" listings on eBay or Etsy—not just "Active" ones. This gives you a realistic idea of what people are actually paying in your area, rather than someone's "dream" price.