When you hold a chest in creative, it is a flat item rather than a 3D block model like the other blocks. Also, when you tap on both a single chest and a doule chest, the opening animation runs as if you opened the chest for the minimum amount of time.

Picture links (for now until i upload them properly):

Holding chest: http://i.imgur.com/fgoY8js.png

Single chest open: http://i.imgur.com/Y8Z05as.png

Double chest open: http://i.imgur.com/5AJLZU4.png