Question 1

What is a mule chest?

Accepted Answer

A mule chest is a low chest that has a drawer or a set of drawers at its base and a hinged top. It stands on legs or brackets and it is usually wider than it is deep. Shop a collection of antique, vintage and contemporary mule chests from some of the world’s top dealers on 1stDibs.

Question 2

What is a marriage chest?

Accepted Answer

A marriage chest is an ornate chest that is given as a gift or dowry to the bride by her parents. It was popular during the Renaissance period in Italy. It was especially used to hold a bride's dowry goods or other possessions. Find marriage chests and other vintage and antique case pieces on 1stDibs.

Question 3

What is a Bombay chest?

Accepted Answer

A Bombay chest is a piece of wooden furniture — a chest that bulges outward in the front and on the sides and then curves in at the base. This style of chest was popularized in 17th century French design.

Question 4

What is a campaign chest?

Accepted Answer

A campaign chest is a chest of drawers that breaks down into smaller pieces for easier transport. Some people refer to this type of case furniture as a military chest. Although mobile furniture for military campaigns dates back to the Romans, the British Army in its global conquests in the 18th and 19th centuries defined the style we know as campaign furniture with sturdy and elegant pieces. Find a selection of campaign chests on 1stDibs.

Question 5

What is a door chest?

Accepted Answer

A door chest is a small cabinet with shelves and is used for storage. They are usually found in bedrooms and living rooms to provide a little extra storage. Shop for a range of antique and vintage door chests on 1stDibs.

Question 6

What is a gentleman's chest?

Accepted Answer

A gentleman's chest is a piece of wooden storage furniture with at least one section large enough to accommodate hanging men's clothing like ties, suits and dress pants. Normally, drawers appear beside and below the hanging cabinet. Find a range of gentleman's chests on 1stDibs.

Question 7

What is a dower chest?

Accepted Answer

A dower chest — also called a dowry chest or hope chest — is a Pennsylvania Dutch chest, a piece of furniture traditionally used by young women to store items in anticipation of married life. Find a collection of antique and vintage dowry chests on 1stDibs.

Question 8

What is a demilune chest?

Accepted Answer

A demilune chest is a type of case good furniture that features a straight back and a curved front. Most feature rows of drawers, cabinet doors or a mix of the two types of storage. Demilune comes from the French word for half moon and refers to the shape of the chests. Shop a range of demilune chests on 1stDibs.

Question 9

What is a bachelor’s chest?

Accepted Answer

A bachelor’s chest is a low chest of drawers. Its name comes from the fact that it was originally designed to provide multipurpose storage for a single man with a small living space.

Question 10

What is a bonnet chest?

Accepted Answer

A bonnet chest is a chest of drawers that has a space for hats. Typically, this larger drawer or area is in the center space and toward the top. Bonnet chests get their name for their function not their shape, as there is no one standard shape for a bonnet chest. Shop a collection of vintage and antique furniture from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

Question 11

What is a bombe chest?

Accepted Answer

A bombe chest is a set of drawers that bulges outward in the front and on the sides. The style, whose name comes from French word bombé, meaning “curved,” originated in 17th-century France.

Question 12

What is a military chest?

Accepted Answer

A military chest is a chest of drawers made of hardwood like mahogany, teak or cedar. Also called a campaign chest, the furniture usually comes apart into smaller pieces for easy carrying. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of military chests.

Question 13

What is a sea chest?

Accepted Answer

A sea chest, typically seen onboard ships, is a storage chest for a sailor’s personal property. The first known sea chest was used in 1613. On 1stDibs, you can find a collection of authentic sea chests from some of the world’s top sellers.

Question 14

What is a sugar chest?

Accepted Answer

A sugar chest is a chest, typically made of wood and featuring legs, that was designed to hold sugar in the late 1700s to early 1800s, when sugar was very valuable. Sugar chests would feature a lock to keep this sweet sign of wealth secure, and featured sections inside to separate light and dark sugars. Shop a range of antique sugar chests on 1stDibs.

Question 15

What is a Tansu chest?

Accepted Answer

Tansu refers to Japanese portable storage chests. When tansu became a well-known feature of life in Japan — the chests’ emergence is said to be rooted in the Genroku era of the Edo period (1688–1704) — the country’s traditionally minimalist households had little to no proper seats, tables, or other pieces of furniture. Tansu were intended to be multipurpose cabinets. These case pieces were used to store things of everyday utility, such as clothing and various personal items. Tansu are regarded as collectible furniture with a timeless appeal. Shop a collection of antique, vintage, and contemporary Tansu from some of the world’s top dealers on 1stDibs.

Question 16

What is a chest dresser called?

Accepted Answer

What a chest dresser is called varies. Some people refer to this type of storage furniture as a bureau or chest of drawers. It's also correct to simply call one a dresser or a chest. Shop a large selection of dressers from some of the world's top sellers on 1stDibs.

Question 17

What is a tansu chest used for?

Accepted Answer

A tansu chest is a Japanese cabinet designed for easy transportation and can store a variety of items, including clothes and personal items. Tansu chests often feature multiple compartments to keep items organized. Shop a selection of authentic tansu chests on 1stDibs.

Question 18

What is an Indian dowry chest?

Accepted Answer

Crafted out of rosewood, teak or jackfruit wood, Indian dowry chests are used for storing jewelry, textiles and money as a wedding dowry from the bride's family to the groom’s family. Every chest holds sentimental value, and can be used in the home to store linens or used as a coffee table. On 1stDibs, find a collection of authentic Indian dowry chests from some of the world’s top sellers.

Question 19

What is the purpose of the Vargueno chest?

Accepted Answer

A vargueno chest may also be referred to as a bargueño chest, which is a cabinet that has both Spanish and Oriental influences and is designed to be portable. Two chests, one on the bottom and one of the top, come together to provide a work surface and drawers for supply storage. Shop a collection of chests from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

Question 20

What is the purpose of a lingerie chest?

Accepted Answer

A lingerie chest is used to neatly organize and store undergarments. This compact chest of drawers can also be used to store other items around the house, allowing for versatile styling. On 1stDibs, find an array of lingerie chests.

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