. . .The date and the initials of the owner were carved upon it, as well as a fanciful motto or legend. At a later period, the chest was placed on a frame of short square legs. The next development was the addition of a long drawer below the chest. Another drawer was added, and another, until this piece of furniture gradually became, instead of a simple box or trunk, a “chest-of-drawers,” a “chest-with-drawers,” a “nest-of-drawers,” a “case-of-drawers,” a “press,” a “cupboard-press,” etc., etc. The bureau, or desk, or “screetore,” is another development; and, of course, the cabinet in its simplest form is nothing but a chest-of-drawers with shelves inside shut in by doors.

This development will be apparent by glancing at the chest-of-drawers, or case-of-drawers, on Plate X. This contains but four drawers, although at first sight it would seem that there were eight. The p. . . Read More