Stefanie called me asking for my opinion, which as mother of grown children I'm more than glad to share. "Would I be crazy to paint Grandma's cedar chest?" she asked. Grandma's chest is 70 years old and we lovingly call it 'the coffin.' Stef has tried to make it fit in with her décor and has been creative in trying to bring it from the 40's.
We discussed its integrity and the value the old chest may hold. Seventy barely meets the criteria of being an antique. It is simply old and not crafted by any well known furniture maker. Stefanie reached her own conclusion after a little bit of thought and shared her view about its true value. She said, "It has sentimental value to me because it was Grandma's and I'll never part with it. Painted or untouched the value remains the same and its true worth will not be compromised." I assume that in the near future I will get a call from my daughter and she will say, "Mom, check your text messages and tell me what you think."
Cedar chests are a part of history meant to hold hand embroidered pillowcases, crocheted dollies and quilts. All these collected items were meant to be saved and used when a girl married. A cedar chest was also called a hope chest. I'm sure Grandma received her hope chest as a high school graduation present, which was a common gift in the 1940's. She most likely filled it with various home goods necessary to set up housekeeping and in the corners she tucked in a little bit of hope. Eventually the hope was fulfilled and the linens found a permanent home. With the passing of time things change. The carefully stored items were used and discarded and the chest was no longer needed.
It may be time to give this box a new life. There are no quilts to put in it, and the hope has been used. Perhaps, this relic from the 40's would appreciate a face lift and a place in the 21st century. Its true value will not be lessoned and paint might be the chance for a second life. Stefanie will love it even more after she puts a little of herself into its renewal. The part of herself that will go toward making the cedar chest fit into her home will fill the empty spaces once occupied by hope and dreams of a young girl.
