Originally Posted by butterflywing

since it's it's so short, i think it may be a ladies' lingerie chest. she would keep her silkies and dainties in the drawers and her kid gloves and jewelry in the top. by opening the top, she could see exactly what accessories she wanted to use that evening. she might also have kept her cosmetics there. it would be only some lip color and powder. maybe some eyebrow color and a 'switch' if she had thin hair. the nicely-finished back would allow her to use it anywhere. sometimes in a room outfitted as a closet, or even the foot of her bed. men often slept in a separate, smaller room to give their wives more room and privacy. men were invited to share the bed when her 'time' was right. it was the chest of a financially comfortable woman, i believe. i had a very similar one when we furnished in antiques for the victorian house. we sold that and many other pieces
when we moved.