| The tradition associated with hope chests dates back to a time when brides were expected to have dowries. This was considered an important part of the woman’s contribution at the beginning of a marriage and contained such things as tablecloths, bed and kitchen linens, and doilies, runners, and furniture scarves. Since these items were then made by hand and sometimes took many months to create, it was important to store them in an environment where they were protected from humidity, heat, and insect damage.
Today, people continue to use hope chests as a traditional gift to a someday-bride so that she can begin her collection of important items to be put into future housekeeping use. Perhaps considered old-fashioned by some, this decades-old tradition continues to be a popular custom cherished by many families with daughters.
Not only do hope chests serve to store valuable linens, but now they are also used to protect photographs, important documents, and many other items considered precious and in need of safekeeping. Once the hope chest becomes part of a newly married couples’ household furnishings, it then becomes a cherished item for storage, often handed down as an heirloom from one generation to the next.
Hope chests used to be exclusively made from cedar, highly noted for its preservative properties and ability to repel moths and other damaging insects. Now it is quite common to find chests made from all types of wood – pine, oak, maple, cherry, mahogany, etc. – and then simply lined with cedar in order to maintain the protective qualities of cedar while enjoying the different beauties of other species of woods.
One excellent online source to find some of the most beautiful, well-built hope chests for any future bride – or for the homeowner who simply wants an extraordinary piece of storage-type furniture – is www.Cabinfield.com. This Web site offers a huge selection of not only hope chests, but a huge variety of all kinds of handcrafted furniture and other home furnishings – all created by the Amish.
Hope chests are part of our American tradition. And if you are in the market for one built with the quality needed to become an heirloom in your family, visit Cabinfield’s. They offer hope chests that will keep your keepsakes and treasured home items beautifully and safely for generations to come.
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