Things Medieval — Chests

Medieval and earlier chests were frequently used for seating as much as for storage, and thus are a convenient size for transporting. There are a variety of styles which I have made, and I am open to making any documentable style.

Clamped Hutches

The "clamped hutch" style is characterised by horizontal boards on the back and front clamped between two uprights. The sample shown below is a large chest made for carrying cooking gear, in pine. It is entirely pegged, and has wooden hinges and internal partitions.

Six-Plank chests

The style of chest commonly called a "six plank chest" is the other very common form of chest that can be documented in various designs for centuries. They are so named because, at least in theory, they can be made with six planks—two ends, two sides, and top and bottom—but in practice depending on the size and available timber it may be necessary to use two planks for the sides.

The version below has metal fittings so that it can be locked up, and is around one meter long and seventy centimeters tall. I usually use this one for carrying around crockery, and it provides a large comfortable bench seat. It’s made up in Radiata Pine finished with linseed oil. Like many surviving chests, this uses very simple joinery, with the sides fixed together with butted, doweled joints, and the back side has later been reinforced with forged nails clenched through.

This smaller version has more fancy legs, with a classic Gothic cutout, and is sized to carry around shoes, gauntlets, pouches, and so forth. It’s made up in generic Tasmanian Oak, finished with multiple layers of wax. Given the cavalier way it’s been handled over the years, this size and style proves to be remarkably robust.