Featured Late 19th Century Chest - Does it pass the smell test?

I feel like the date on the chest is approximately accurate, but I am usually wrong so here are pics if anyone wants to take a look.

 

I can't imagine that any white painted lettering would last that amount of time in such condition.

 

Would not be surprised if the chest is actually older. Typical immigrants trunk 1850 or later. Possibly Scandinavian in origin. Does look awfully clean inside and out but right otherwise. Might have just been well kept.

 

I've seen German dome trunks like this dating to the 1840s. They may have repainted it after they arrived.

 

Agrees with others, seems period to me with a newer paint job. That said, I wouldn't pay a lot for it, here is one coming up for sale.
http://auctions.kaminskiauctions.com/Dome_Top_Coffin_Chest-LOT7290.aspx

 

Paid $100 so not in too deep.

The wood does look in very good condition for its age on the inside which is why it kind of threw me off, but everything else looked right and I couldn't imagine someone going through so much trouble to reproduct a chest.

The auction was calling it a dowry chest, but it looked too plain to me.

I will try testing the wood softness later on today when get back to it.

Thanks for all the posts!

 

I FIRST do have to say that it's a pretty chest and I like its lines! However, even at $100., with the tenderness around the edges, and all the other tiny holes from some kind of hungry little 'eaters', all over the outside (if you look carefully at the images), I personally would have passed.

 

I would assume that this was designed/intended as a home storage piece and not as a travel piece? Those insubstantial bracket feet would not last long in the hold of a steam ship..................