Chest c. 1710

This chest was made by an anonymous artist, and its time of creation is unknown. Chests such as this were important pieces of furniture during an era when personal possessions were limited. Its wood is heavily carved, suggesting a symbolic importance tied to the family or individual who commissioned it. In a world where literacy was not common, the images on the chest acted as a marker of identity. While we don't know the artist's intentions, we can ask how this chest functioned within its original social context. Did it reinforce social status, or did it allow for new forms of self-expression? As we consider its place in the household, we might reflect on the private rituals of life that it witnessed and helped to shape. Ultimately, this chest allows us to imagine the emotional and material worlds of those who lived with it.