INGENUITY AND LUXURY 



When the feudal lord and members of his household 

 moved from place to place most of their possessions 

 were taken with them. In the chests belonging to 

 the household were placed all the plate, jewels, orna- 

 ments, and tapestries from the halls, to be carried away 

 to the next resting-place. On arrival these chests were 

 unpacked, the tapestry hung upon the walls, and cer- 

 tain articles removed and placed about the rooms, 

 the chests themselves being used as a storage place for 

 clothing and valuables, and serving also in the capacity 

 of couches and chairs. 



Even such simple conveniences as wardrobes for 

 hanging clothing were not generally used, clothing of 

 all kinds being kept in the chests. But the inconve- 

 nience of digging out articles of clothing and valuables 

 from the bottom of these great chests led finally to 

 modifications, first in the smaller ones, and later in 

 the larger, until finally drawers and "chests of drawers" 

 were developed. The wardrobe, or clothes-press, was 

 also a simple evolution of the chest made by standing 

 it on end so that the clothing could be hung from pegs 

 and not folded in the boxes except during the times of 

 moving. 



The modern box-couch is perhaps the nearest direct 

 lineal descendant of the old feudal chest. In fact, 

 aside from the springs, it is practically identical in 

 structure with its ancient prototype. 



Some of the first medieval chairs were made as small 

 chests with backs and arm-pieces as temporary addi- 

 tions, which could be removed when necessary. When 

 these became fixed parts they were often built very 



