More Chests: Slanted and Enchanted –
Suzanne Ellison turned up more images of chests from the 14th and early 15th centuries that have lids that may or may not be slanted.
Whether the lid’s cockedness is the result of the builder or the illustrator is immaterial to me – I’m going to build some. I have been impressed by the slant-lid Dutch chests I’ve been building for the last three years for three reasons:
- You can’t stack junk on top of them.
- They keep the rain off (surprisingly I have found this to be true and helpful).
- The slanted lid provides easy access to the contents of the chest. I think most people who have built Dutch tool chests will agree with me that snatching tools out of the top compartment is a breeze thanks to the 30° slant on the lid.
Here are notes on the images from Suzanne:
The top image is from the “Bibliotheque de l’Arsenal,” dated 1300-1400. She is sitting on a flat-top chest but the lid of the chest to the right looks to be slanted.
This one is is from the Morgan Library, dated 1380.
This one is also from the Morgan, dated 1405.
— Christopher Schwarz
