Chest
Author: Unknown
Origin: Unknown
Dating: 17th century
Material: Wood, Leather, Textile & Brass
Dimensions (cm): 62,7 x 159 x 70,7
Inv. no.: PD0444
One of the oldest pieces of furniture is the chest, which was used to store personal belongings – i.e. clothing, tableware and even valuables such as silverware or jewellery. Chests – and other pieces of furniture that derived from them – were easy to move and, for this reason, they were chosen to transport goods from one place to another.
Until the mid-17th century, chests were the main form of storage, and were only gradually replaced by, among others, cabinets and dressers.
Some chests evolved into trunks. The latter differ on the lids which are shaped as a hollowed-out trunk. This may have happened in order to prevent the accumulation of rainwater during travels.
