Regal Manner

rior to the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, household furniture intended for storage could be rather rudimentary: practical in theory, but not always very functional. Clothing and linen, for example, were often stored in coffers or blanket-style chests, which, although spacious, were not particularly convenient when it came time to retrieving those unfortunate items buried at the bottom of the chest. But with the increasing sophistication of furniture-making and an enhanced desire for ease of use, furniture designed for both comfort and convenience became