More about Blanket Boxes
It is not difficult to imagine that the earliest type of furniture would have been simple wooden boxes or chests. These were the place to keep a family's valued possessions and would usually have been fitted with handles ready to be moved at a moments notice when threatened by attack or invasion. As time passed, the number of 'boxes' increased and they were used for more specific purposes. Blanket Boxes, as the name indicates, were originally used to protect valuable and expensive blankets from damp – hence feet to keep them off the ground – and from the predations of moths and other insects.
Dovetail joints and Mule Chests
The latest technical developments in the Tudor/Stuart period included the invention of the dovetail joint. This brilliant invention meant drawers could be made successfully without having to rely solely on the strength of animal glues or expensive hand-made nails to hold them together - neither of which had been totally satisfactory. Furniture makers could now add drawers to the bottom of the simple chest and this gave rise to the Mule chest and, ultimately, the chest of drawers. The mule chest meant people no longer had to remove the entire contents of a chest to get to the valuable items placed in the bottom.
Ottomans for putting the feet up
Ottomans were footstools that acquired their name because because 18th Century Europeans believed that reclining with the feet up was an oriental habit – and therefore of the Ottoman Empire. Hollow ‘Ottomans’ could also be used as Blanket Boxes.
At Right Price Furniture we offer a variety of
blanket box and
wooden Ottoman styles, made from traditional hardwoods such as oak and Mango. All are solidly built and designed to withstand a lifetime of normal use. If you cannot immediately see the exact
wooden storage chest you seek, don't forget to pick a style you like and click on it to check what finishes are offered. We also have a couple of mule chests that might be of interest. Many of our
blanket boxes are offered in several different wax, lacquer and even painted finishes - which can make a big difference to their final appearance.
Blanket Boxes are a great feature piece of furniture. The possibilities are really endless. You might want to store board games, or drinking games, or any manner of household items that generally don’t have a specific home in a blanket box. However, they also make great stowaways for childrens colouring books, pens, and magazines. Of course, you don’t have to keep a blanket box resigned to a living room, they can go in any room you wish, from
dining room to
bedrooms.