Treasure Chests: The Legacy of Extraordinary Boxes [Hardcover]

Lon Schleining (Author), Randy O'Rourke (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2001

Treasure Chests traces the fascinating evolution of the boxes that have held the things that people valued most over the centuries. For thousands of years, chests have gone to war, to sea, journeyed with us across entire continents, and held and protected the possessions we hold most dear in our very own homes. From tool chests to toy chests, this book celebrates how extraordinary a box can be when it is meant to hold something we treasure.
-- Features more than 100 chests from museums and private collections.
-- Includes more than 250 color photographs.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Wooden chests have served many purposes throughout the centuries; they've held tools, the possessions of sailors, and the future housewares of brides often their owner's most precious things. Schleining's survey is part history and part picture book, with a multitude of colorful photographs supplementing the text. Nearly every chest is accompanied by a fascinating story; some of the chests have been in the same family for generations. Of particular interest is a section of unusual chests, including a "corpse preserver" (with an ice compartment) that was once used by undertakers. This interesting book is best suited for comprehensive public library collections.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Beautifully photographed with lots of background information, this book is itself a treasure."

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 200 pages
• Publisher: Taunton Press (October 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561583626
• ISBN-13: 978-1561583621
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 9.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,144,949 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and wide-ranging, April 18, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Treasure Chests: The Legacy of Extraordinary Boxes (Hardcover)

A lovely book. The title may mislead - it's really what I would think of as large-scale boxes, carcass work. Old and new designs, from blanket chests to campaign chests. Usually enough photos of each piece to give a real sense of it, too. (I hate feeling like I've missed seeing 2/3 of what's there.)

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sumptuous, August 7, 2006

By 

David C. Brayton (Healdsburg, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Treasure Chests: The Legacy of Extraordinary Boxes (Paperback)

I really enjoy this book. I am a woodworker / furniture maker and I read a lot of this style of book. The author does a fantastic job of illustrating each box and providing a bit of background on each box. The photos are all in color and very well composed.

The boxes range from a tea box recovered from the harbor at the Boston Tea Party to HO Studley's over-the-top tool chest to a standard GI foot locker.

The book is well-organized. There is little wood working technique described so if you are looking for a how-to book, this ain't the book for you. However, the author briefly describes uncommon techniques such as lapstrake construction (common in shipbuilding but almost unheard of in furniture making).

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Both a beautiful and an educational book, October 5, 2002

By 

Wayne Cannon "Wayne" (Healdsburg, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Treasure Chests: The Legacy of Extraordinary Boxes (Hardcover)

This book is truly enjoyable to read.

It is a beautiful "coffee table" book -- after all, who isn't intrigued by antique treasure chests and other historical boxes.

I really enjoyed the history behind the various boxes types, and learned a lot about the benefits of the different construction types.