treasure chests

In one warehouse on top of all the other furniture were beautiful wooden chests. The first two pictures are of camphor wood chests. Camphor wood is a very aromatic wood. Camphor chests were used by the early expats who lived in china because camphor's aroma safeguarded silks, and other materials from insects on long voyages from China to America or Europe. These chests were usually built in the "treaty Ports" of china where westerners were allowed to live by the Imperial Chinese Government.
















I don't know what kind of wood this chests is made of but it sure looks like it could tell some unique stories of where it has been and who owned it. I think that is one of the attractions of antiques. They can hold secrets that will never be told, only imagined.