Chest, Made by Godfrey Wilkin for His Son Jacob Wilkin, 1801

Storage space in most middle-class households was minimal by our standards, making chests like this a necessity for the family's storage needs. This chest's drawers and lid may be locked, assuring the family that their possessions were safely stored. The decorative front of this chest tilts to reveal a row of hidden drawers. These drawers likely held valuables and important correspondence.