Chest (furniture)

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Antique Wooden Chest

early 19th Century American pine blanket chest or sugar chest, painted to look like curly maple

A chest is one of the oldest forms of furniture. It is typically a rectangular structure with four walls and a liftable lid, for storage. The interior space may be subdivided. The early uses of an Antique chest or coffer included storage of fine cloth, weapons, foods and valuable items.

A cassone is a kind of carved or painted chest associated with late Medieval and Renaissance Italy. Cassones were often used to carry the dowry goods in a marriage ceremony.

In Medieval and early Renaissance times in Europe low chests were often used as benches while taller chests were used as side tables. By placing a chest on the side on any kind of rough table, the inner surface of its lid could be used as a proper writing surface while the interior could house writing implements and related materials, as was the case with the Bargueno desk of Spain. Many early Portable desks were stacked chests, with the top one having its lid on the side, to serve as a writing surface when opened.

In ancient Chinese history, chests were often also used as medicinal chests, which could be transported at will to prevent discovery by ancient emperors, who had banned the usage of medicinal chests, due to the superstitious belief that they were indecent to the human body.^{[citation needed]}

In fantasy, fables, and games, chests frequently contain treasure.