camphorwood chest

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June 22, 2026

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A camphorwood chest is a storage furniture item, typically made from the wood of the camphor tree. This wood is known for its penetrating, somewhat musty aroma. Historically, camphorwood chests, particularly those from Java, were used for travel, carrying goods like spices around the Cape of Good Hope.12

Camphor itself is an organic compound with the molecular formula C₁₀H₁₆O. It has been used for centuries in incense and medicine, and more recently as a plasticizer for cellulose nitrate and as an insect repellent, especially for moths. The wood of the camphor tree, or trees producing Borneo camphor, is referred to as camphorwood.134

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furniture
Chest
On later camphorwood chests the brass mounts are sunk flush with the surface of the wood, just as on portable writing desks and toilet cases of the French Empire period. Veneered wood was not suitable for chests intended for travel purposes, but it was possible to cover…
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On later camphorwood chests the brass mounts are sunk flush with the surface of the wood, just as on portable writing desks and toilet cases of the French Empire period. Veneered wood was not suitable for chests intended for travel purposes, but it was possible to cover…
Read More