What is a chest

The chest is an original Russian piece of furniture.

Previously, rich families used to store the most valuable things for various purposes in it. Often, chests were supplemented with a powerful lock and decorated with decorative elements or paintings.

In less wealthy families, clothes, shoes and kitchen utensils were stored in such pieces of furniture; they often replaced the bed for their owners.

Chest as a type of furniture

Let's take a closer look at what a chest is.

Definition

According to dictionaries, a chest is a large box equipped with a removable or hinged lid and an opening for a lock.

It was used in everyday life by a variety of nationalities. In Russia, chests were present in the homes of both wealthy citizens and ordinary peasants.

Important! A chest is a very convenient piece of furniture that can hold a large amount of items.

In past centuries, even food was stored in such boxes.

In addition, they were used to transport various goods. For young girls, from birth, a dowry was collected in chests in order to subsequently hold a wedding celebration in accordance with all the rules and give the bride in marriage not empty-handed.

Today it is a piece of cabinet furniture that fits well into various interiors.

Just like in historical times, today it is used to store various household items.You can meet it in houses and apartments, but quite rarely. Most often, chests are found in museums, where organizers want to show the life of past generations.

Design

Outwardly, it resembles a large and heavy box with beveled corners, which is covered with a large lid secured with a lock.

The products are usually made from thick wood and trimmed with metal elements in the form of brackets and monograms, as well as a lock.

Expensive models could use a built-in lock or a complex locking mechanism, while cheap ones could use a regular padlock with a key.

Varieties

Among the varieties there are such models.

• Teremok. It had an additional small compartment built on top of the main piece of furniture, into which the most valuable things were placed.
• Headrest. It had a special beveled plane for the pillow in its design. The man did not worry about his wealth while sleeping, as he slept directly on the chest.
• Chest. A roughly made, undecorated box that was used to store cereals and other foodstuffs.
• Box Utensils, characteristic of poorer segments of the population, often had paintings.
• Locker. Boxes designed for storing utensils on sea vessels.

Important! Today, a piece of furniture has a decorative purpose rather than a functional one.

It is used as a bright addition to the interior in the image of Russian antiquity or vintage style.

Purpose

History knows the varied purposes of these pieces of furniture.

These wooden boxes were used to store the most valuable things, papers and jewelry. As well as items of clothing and kitchen utensils, which were especially dear to the owners.

In inexpensive models, supplies of various foodstuffs, cereals, flour and other products were stored or sold.

It was also convenient to transport various items in them. Chests were used as bulky suitcases for everything that needed to be transported from place to place.

Modern life of an antique chest

Today you can no longer see a chest everywhere, but some interior designers decide to use it in their projects.

Antique or artificially aged products can be used in interiors created in a vintage style or ethnic decoration of an apartment.

It fits well into the interior and serves the owners not only as decoration, but is also quite practical. You can store various things in it, for example, an extra set of bedding for late guests.

Modern designers are also creating new models of chests made of frosted glass or plastic. Such models will perfectly complement an interior in a loft or minimal style. These are very original and practical models that will be an excellent addition to the decoration of the room.