Chest

A chest is essentially a box (most frequently made of wood) that has a removable or hinged lid. Chests are primarily used for storage and for the safety of the contents may possess a lock, have a padlock attached or be chained up. Many chests have metal banding to strengthen them, some are decorated with carvings, decorative nails, or shapes or embossing on the leather coverings that some chests displayed.

Chests were used by all levels of society. One chest that rests in an English church has a curious history. On one day a year women could attempt to throw open the heavy lid in one go, and if successful were granted the right to take the husband of another woman.

A casket is similar, but smaller often very highly decorated including having carved ivory panels. Caskets were used to hold smaller items usually of value.

Chests and caskets of note

• Bamberg casket
• Mastermyr chest
• Oseberg chest
• Carved Ivory Caskets and Reliquaries of Early Northern Europe

See also:

• furniture