XVI
CHESTS
SERVING many purposes and known by many names, the chest has always been an important piece of furniture. Its importance with the early settler has been stressed. Mentioned in the earliest inventories and in wills as early as 1647, with trunks, it must not be thought to have had to do with their origin. The less elaborate of the early chests were doubtless made here, but the finer "joyned chests," as they were known, were brought from England. Occasionally a locally-made chest of the finer type is found. The simpler ones were made of six boards, the side pieces forming the feet. Cedar, spruce, oak, pine, walnut, and swamp pine from the lowlands of the South, were employed.
The "joyned" or paneled chests were durably made, and presumably to hold valuables. They often had two locks, and were carved and stained. The 1650 type showed sides, back and front all paneled. Incised carving, known as scratch carving, in the shape of arches, containing conventionalized geometric or floral designs, was displayed on the front and sides. The tulip and sunflower were favorite motifs, and chests called by these names are found. Some examples had one long or two short drawers at the base; the stiles formed the feet.
Later examples show that the drawer became two long drawers, one above the other, both raised upon a frame. From this type comes the four-drawer chest, known variously as chest of drawers, nest of drawers, and case of drawers. Another type which came into existence with the chest of drawers was a chest upon frame; and from this type derived the highboy with the six legs and stretcher frame, the legs of which, following Queen Anne influence about 1710, took the cabriole shape. Many chests of drawers made of pine and of walnut, in the South in the middle of
Empire chest-of-drawers
the eighteenth century, are found. Advertisements, as presented in the old Charles Town newspapers, are interesting in this connection.
Under Chippendale the chest of drawers took the serpentine curve in the front, and was popular. It remained in favor until after 1800. During this period the chest-
