I have had great success using maritime museums and auction houses to help me identify unusual items as i was employed in international freight claims.
you may try to do the same on line by sending photos to the places of your choice
they may at the least be able to help you authenticate your chest
Thank you so much this information it is extremely interesting. I appreciate your assistance with this question. I’m going to add more information soon which I recently inquired about the chest and where it’s been, I guess for the past 80-100 years.