Functions and Use
The chest would most likely have been placed in the room with the nicest bed within the house. As homes were not functionally divided the way they are today, this room was not necessarily the ‘bedroom’ in the modern sense, but could have also served as a place for social gathering, like the parlor. The chest would most likely have belonged to the woman of the household, and it would hold her valuables, such as linens, embroidered goods and other items from her trousseau. The form of the chest itself is evidence of its function. Every drawer in the chest and skirt has a lock, hinting at the value of what would have been stored within. The top of the chest contains a semi-hidden drawer, not immediately visible, another indicator that the chest was meant to hold valuables. It is important to keep in mind that things we now may take for granted such as bed linens, were quite valuable to a woman in the early 18th century.