While similar, typical "Sea Chests" were mostly smaller than the typical "Stowage Chest", but were a bit larger than a ditty box. And like a ditty box the sea chest was usually owned or issued to an individual to store personal belongings and food stuffs, change of clothes, items from home and things picked up in far flung ports. These sea chests were safely stored below decks where the sailor kept his bunk, sometimes even in a stateroom or cabin. A sea chest was in many cases well made (or at least better constructed than a general purpose Stowage Chest), in many cases personalized, many had nautical designs or scenes etched into them, certainly the sailors name or initials engraved somewhere on it.

Now the "Stowage Chest" though similar in style was normally a bit larger than a Sea Chest and was used to store ships gear such as mess gear, rope, tools, pulleys and blocks, weapons such as cutlasses, boarding axes and firearms. The exterior of stowage chests were typically painted a dark green, sometimes red, and haze gray with many having multiple layers from years of being used. Not many stowage chests have survived their use; especially ones used above decks or on the weather decks where they were exposed to all the rigors and elements of sea service, ie; wind, rain, ice, sun, sea spray, salt water and certainly rough use. The insides of most chests were not painted and the pine wood left bare. All had a small compartment situated up near the top and to one side to store small items

NOTE: In the photo to the left are a bunch of sailors and two stowage chests (or sea chests) with a sailor in the right foreground sitting on one and another sailor in the right background sitting on another. Note that the sea chest in the foregound is substantially smaller and designed slightly different than the one in the background. Also in the left foreground a sailor is sitting on his ditty box! Photo taken circa 1890s aboard either a newly commissioned Armored Cruiser or Battleship.

The construction and material used by both sea chests and stowages chests had much in common, as they needed to be inexpensive yet sturdy to withstand the rigors of their environment. Typically all were about 40" in length, 20" in width and 20" high and made of pine wood except for some of the more expensive personal sea chests. Early 19th century chests used "6-plank" construction meaning all four sides, top lid and bottom were all made from single planks of wood, with dovetailed joints securing the four sides. Single plank construction was much sturdier and ultimately lighter than using multiple planks for a single side. The lids of virtually all sea chests and stowage chests had an extended front and sides with the left and right sides each having a 2" skirt. The extended lids and skirts helped prevent water and the elements from getting inside the chest.

All sea chests and stowage chests had wooden cleats on both ends to hold "rope beckets", (sometimes the smaller sailors sea chests just hand wrought iron handles) which were used to lift and haul the sea chests around the deck. All chests also had flat bottoms, some had skirts and some did not, to easily move them on deck. Many of these chests had the classic slanted sides where the bottom of the chest was wider than the top to help keep a low center of gravity on a pitching and rolling deck.

Finding real authentic sea chests and certainly stowage chests are next to impossible as they have been lost to time and use, especially the stowage chests which were used on weather decks!

Below you will find period photographs of Nautical and Naval Vessels that Illustrate Sea Chests Being Used Both Above on Weather Decks for Storing Weapons, Rope, Pulleys, Tools and other Items. And Below Decks such as in Staterooms or Cabins, Gun Rooms, Enlisted Berthing and Mess Decks. There will be the original photo in its entirety and then a cropped portion showing just the sea chest. Below you will also find Sea Chests at The Pirates Lair which may be available.

This stowage trunk was certainly not used on the weather decks but most likely in an Officers or Captains stateroom or cabin. Note the fine craftsmanship of the dovetailed joints, lid overhangs both front and side planks with side skirt clearly seen, classic wooden side cleat where a rope becket would go thru and be mounted, no exterior paint however the top of the lid shows that it had seen a fair amount of use. Also note the slight inward angle or leaning of the front and rear planks to lower the center of gravity preventing the chest to easily tip over in rough seas.

Note the closeup of the wooden cleat and the interior of the chest where some lid repairs were performed to strengthen the integrity of the lid. Note also the inside rear hinges and side skirts and that the small compartment is missing.

The below photos show a rare and complete weather deck "Stowage Chest" from the exterior dark green paint, unpainted interior, wooden cleats, lid overhang and side skirts, bottom edge kick skirt, long interior hinges, small compartment in place with cover, and the the beaten up weathered and used look. This particular stowage chest does not have the sides slanting inwards.

Antique Sea Chest and Stowage Chest The Rarest of All! Detailed photos and technical characteristics of these authentic mid to late 19th century naval and nautical sea chests and stowage chests some of which may be for sale.	Click Photo!	Used in Officers Staterooms and Captains Cabins as well as for general storage aboard all decks of the ship. Typically 40"x20"x20" made of 6-plank pine wood with wooden cleats and rope beckets. These sea chests here at The Pirates Lair or the real deal, no reproductions!	Prices Vary if Available	Call To Order 540 659 6209
Seamans or Sailors Sea Chest - British or American - 18th/19th CenturyClassic Mid-Late 18th or Early 19th Century Handcrafted Sailors Sea Ches. Normally made of pine this sea chest is completely handcrafted of Oak woods with detailed 6-plank construction using dovetail joints. Exterior lid has hand beveled edges to repell water and the interior lid has hand trimmed edges to provide for an overlapping of the 4 sides. The interior has a your standard small compartment with lid on one side. Originally secured with a lock and key but the top male half is long gone. The handles are blacksmith hand forged and made of wrought iron secured to the sea chest with simple nails curved on the inside walls. Additionally, two of the original decorative iron escutcheons are still attached to the left and right sides of the lock, there also appears to have been 6 additional ones located on the top of the lid but they are long gone.	Click Photo For Information!	22" x 12" x 11" Beautiful patina on this 200+ year old antique seamans sea chest!	It was noted to me that this sea chest is most likely a 1770s-1790s American made item due to the crudely made blacksmith hand forged wrought iron escutcheons. (I dont think they're crude - I think they are fantastic!)	Private Collection of The Pirates Lair Displayed for Historical Purposes Only
American Whalers Seamans or Sailors Sea Chest Early 19th Century Documented Use From 1815 to 1862Rarest of the Rare in Nautical Antiques! A Fully 100% Documented Provenance of an Early 19th Century Sea Chest Used and Kept in the Family of Whalers and Sailors from 1815 to 1862. Originally Owned and Used Aboard a Whaler by Jotham R. Tripp of Westport, MA who Passed it on to His 4 Sons (Also Whalers) with Final Ownership by his Son Theodore J. Tripp Who Last Used it in 1862 On a Whaling Voyage 500 Miles North of Hudson Bay on the Bark "Orray Taft" Captained by the Famous Arctic Explorer George E. Tyson	Click Photo For Information!	L42" X W19" X H17" - Classic 19th Century Sea Chest Configuration with 6-board pine wood construction, dove tail joints, beveled edges and lid side skirts, wooden cleats and beckets, and a single fixed tray with lid. What is certainly unique about this sea chest is that it holds a secret shelf which can only be revealed and accessed by lifting up the side of the tray! The shelf bottom even has 3 finger cut outs to better facilitate its retrieval. Remnants still exist of the original green lead paint.	Kept by and used within the family of the original owner Jotham Round Tripp for over 115 years the provenance of this sea chest 100% documented and established from 1815 to 1930 upon the death of the last family seaman and owner Theodore J. Tripp. Just prior to his death Theodore wrote the brief history of this sea chest on the back of a 1928 1929 Kelloggs Rice Krispies inkblot advertisement! Mr. Tripp obviously was aware of his pending demise and was identifying the important things he had collected in his lifetime - his fathers sea chest which he himself also used as a seaman and sailor aboard a whaling ship.	Private Collection of The Pirates Lair Displayed for Historical Purposes Only

OPTIONAL - Trunk Wood Engraving Examples and Prices Custom Designed, Handcrafted, and Hand Lettered in Caligraphy on your Antique Chest	Click Here To Review Sample Engravings	Personalize Your 100+ Year Old Antique Trunk in Perpetuity!
Antique Trunks as a Shadow Box and Storage Chest! Customer Photographic Examples of our Antique Trunks Being used as a Military or Naval Retirement Shadow Box and Storage Chest!!	Click Here for Sample Shadow Box Photographs From Customers	Why just get a shadow box or a newly made trunk with no history! One of our 100+ Year Old Nautical Antique Trunks can be used for both a Shadow Box and Storage Chest for your Uniforms, Photograph Albums, and Memorabilia!

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Antique Trunks and Sea Chest with a Shadow Box or a Shadowbox make the perfect military or navy retirement gift or naval promotion gift for enlisted or officer.