My grandfather has a similar looking chest that originally belonged to a jeweler. He used it to store tools and nick knacks in his shed. As a kid I was always fascinated by it because of its decorative veneers and antique locks and handles.... not to mention all the stuff he used to keep in it. At 6 or 7, maybe 8, I didn't understand what a lot of it was for, but it was sure fun pulling it all out and inventing uses.
Funnily enough, when speaking about chests, the guy my mother married after dad died had been a long-term family friend, and he gave me an old seamans chest that converted into a sloping desktop when opened and had secret compartments, etc. It'd be worth quite a bit of money these days, largely because of its decorative exterior, all done in a parquetry design using different timber veneers. Again, it was something I had to leave behind due to the luggage limit we had to come under.
As for your chest, I could use something along those lines now. It would go nicely in my man cave for various PC bits n' pieces and look quite the furniture piece. Nice!!!
