THE chest of drawers marks a distinct advance in the conveniences of household arrangements and in the constructive skill of English joiners which was required to meet a new demand. It is remarkable that the development did not take place earlier, since cabinets with drawers innumerable had been made for royal and noble personages long before the middle of the seventeenth century, the date to which the chest of drawers evolved from the plain chest may be assigned.

It is reasonable to suppose, for instance, that a 'rich ebony cabbinett with gilded fixtures' and 'a very large ebony cabinet' inventoried amongst the goods confiscated from Corfe Castle, Dorset, in 1643-4, were fitted with drawers. It may be noticed, at the same time (Bankes's Story of Corfe Castle, p. 250), that there is great mention of 'trunks' containing various articles of blankets, linen, and clothes. Now, these are not necessarily what we understand by 'trunks,' i.e. plain boxes used for travelling and storage. One of them is described as being 'a very large trunke, inlay'd all over with mother of pearl.' Considering the size of the contents of some of them, e.g.: 'One suit of hangings, a rich watchet damask lined with blew cloth, 9 pieces, and one carpet,' it is reasonable to suppose that these 'trunks' are what we call coffers or chests.