Chest

A piece of furniture in the form of a box with a hinged lid, made from time immemorial. Highly decorated examples have been found in the Egyptian tombs of some three thousand years ago. In mediaeval times in Italy dower or bridal chests (cassoni) were often very elaborately carved, painted, inlaid or gilt. In England in the sixteenth century oak chests were sometimes richly carved. They were a principal article of domestic furniture until the middle of the seventeenth century, when a drawer or drawers were added, and towards the end of the century, about 1670, the box and lid disappeared, and the article became a chest of drawers. The ecclesiastical chest and the coffer or strong box for the storage of valuables are developments of the box. See Mule Chest.

Chest Of Drawers

The origin of this piece of furniture is given in the preceding article. In the Restoration period the chest of drawers was a usual feature in a house and it was developed on Dutch and French lines until, towards the end of the seventeenth century, the "tall-boy," consisting of one chest of drawers on the top of another, and the "high-boy" or chest of drawers mounted on a dressing-table or stand called a "low-boy," were introduced. All of these types persisted in the styles of the various schools throughout the eighteenth century.

Chest-On-Chest

Identical with the Tall-Boy, q.v.

Chesterfield

A stuffed-over couch or sofa, usually of large size, with a continuous back. The smaller size of this luxurious piece of furniture has sometimes an adjustable head.

Chestnut

The wood of the horse-chestnut is sometimes used for furniture. It is soft and spongy and of a whitish or pale yellow hue. It is sometimes mistaken for satin wood.

Cheval Glass

A looking-glass swinging on two vertical supports each with two feet spreading out forwards and backwards. It was introduced into England late in the seventeenth century and made during the whole of the eighteenth century in two forms - a large one to stand on the floor and a small one to stand on a table, low-boy, or chest of drawers. Sheraton made the small kinds in much the same manner as those in the Queen Anne period. It was not until the close of the century that a dressing-table was invented with a swinging mirror attached to the framework like the present-day dressing-table. The name is now, as a rule, confined to the large type of glass standing on the floor.

Chevron

A V-shaped or zigzag device, most familiar in heraldry. This design was often used in seventeenth-century inlay work.

Chiffonnier

Usually mis-spelt as "Cheffonier" and as frequently mis-pronounced " Cheffoneer." Its literal meaning is a gatherer up of small articles - in France a chiffonnier is a "rag-and-bone" man. The name was given in the mid-nineteenth century to a sideboard with two doors below enclosing shelves; there were usually one or two shelves at the back of the top for the reception of ornaments.