The chest of drawers, or the dresser. It's design came from somewhere right? Was it just invented? Or did it morph from another design.

What piece of early furnishing originated the "Chest of Drawers" concept?

Clue: Early traditions dictated that brides receive them, and straps and rats made up a part of them.

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker
Proud Supporter of Wounded Warrior Project and Homes For Our Troops

First thought would be a steamer trunk.

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Good, Better, Best never let it rest
Till your Good is Better and your Better is Best.

Hope Chest? Rats and straps were the hinges?

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Lew Kauffman-
Wood Turners Forum Host

Time traveler. Purveyor of the world's finest custom rolling pins!

Me thinks that the original design started with the Armoire .  A closet thingy in bedrooms that didn't have a real closet.  Then, they started putting drawers in them.

Sorry, John, the clues didn't help me a bit  

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Fred
aka Pop's Shop
www.pops-shop.com
EX-21
'Soooooo many patterns - sooooo little time'

John,

How about a Dowery Chest?

 

Larry

Old Woodworking Machinery Forum Host

I'm clueless but everyone else's answers sound good.

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Greg
Scroll Saw forum host

http://www.thesawdustfactoryga.com/

Is that the same as a "Hope Chest"?

Larry Buskirk said:

John,

How about a Dowery Chest?

 

Larry

Old Woodworking Machinery Forum Host

Lew,

It might be, but I've heard both terms.

I suppose it depends what part of the country you are located in, and your heritage.

 

Larry

 

Lewis Kauffman said:

Is that the same as a "Hope Chest"?

Larry Buskirk said:

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Lew Kauffman-
Wood Turners Forum Host

Time traveler. Purveyor of the world's finest custom rolling pins!

My first thoughts were a Dowery Chest. Also thinking back in time they used a writing desk to hold their pen, ink and parchment in divided areas under a writing table top that was hinged. Personally I like all the answers.

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Wayne Mahler
God bless and protect our troops that serve so we can be free.

Great answers guys!!! You nailed it!

Yep, the blanket chest, hope chest, the dowry, in the beginning stages of these chests they were just boxes, then back in the 16th century someone decided to put a small drawer in the bottom of the chest, by the time the 17th century rolled around folks had started adding multiple drawer levels to the chest, when eventually the lid was abandoned and they started stacking the chests to form a "Chest on Chest" configuration. 

All the chest of drawers and dressers, and the high-boy configurations, all owe it to this modest little fellow called simply a "Chest", a box.

Bragging rights? I'd say it would have to go to Lew Kauffman for the first with the correct answer, Mark Dorman was on the right track! And congrats on the rest for some great answers.

For the research I referenced you can go to Fine Woodworking's A Short History of Chests of Drawers.

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker
Proud Supporter of Wounded Warrior Project and Homes For Our Troops

next question.

what came first the tool chest or the blanket/Dowery chest.

By the way I don't know I'm just asking.

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Good, Better, Best never let it rest
Till your Good is Better and your Better is Best.

That's funny Mark! Great question!!!!

Mark Dorman said:

next question.

what came first the tool chest or the blanket/Dowery chest.


By the way I don't know I'm just asking.

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Good, Better, Best never let it rest
Till your Good is Better and your Better is Best.

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker
Proud Supporter of Wounded Warrior Project and Homes For Our Troops

By definition a hope chest was what a woman kept her belongings in before she was married.

A dowery chest was given at the time of the wedding.

These definitions come from my wifes crossword puzzle dictionary.

Is there a difference?

 

Larry

Old Woodworking Machinery Forum Host

I thought both were created before the woman was married, I was under the impression that they both were filled with linens, and wares and given to the bride to be before she was swooped across the threshold. I did not know there was a difference Larry!

Hey, this could be part two of this trivia, lets start it here.

What is the difference between a dowry and a hope chest if there is any, and Goggling is allowed on this one!!!

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker
Proud Supporter of Wounded Warrior Project and Homes For Our Troops

If a woman never gets married, soes the Hope Chest become a Hopeless Chest???????

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Fred
aka Pop's Shop
www.pops-shop.com
EX-21
'Soooooo many patterns - sooooo little time'

  

Or the  Old Maids Chest?  

 

Larry

Fred Wilson said:

If a woman never gets married, soes the Hope Chest become a Hopeless Chest???????

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Fred
aka Pop's Shop
www.pops-shop.com
EX-21
'Soooooo many patterns - sooooo little time'