A small Charles
II Oak Mule Chest last quarter 17th century interior fitted with a lidded
till.
The chest or coffer is unquestionably the earliest form of furniture.
From it evolved a variety of objects - settles, chairs, cabinets and
chests of drawers. An example of an English chest dates back to the
13th century.
In the 17th century coffers were produced in large numbers and despite
developments of other forms of cupboards, linen and clothing were
still most often stored in these pieces of furniture.
The main problem with coffers was gaining access to the items placed
at the bottom, and from about mid 17thC the inclusion of a drawer
in the base became common. In England, these became known as Mule
Chests.
some restorations
H62cm, W97.5cm, D51cm |
