The first 2 pictures are of the style of hope chest that I have made for each of my nieces at about age 16 or so, for Wedding Dowry storage and quilt storage. I previously have given them each a quilt of their own. The Chest is constructed of Pine and is made with dovetailed corners and Solid brass handles, and solid brass keyed lock. The top is of the floating panel style which allows for expansion and contraction due to humidity changes (important). The bottom of the chest is made of fragrant Cedar to inhibit moths. The 3rd and 4th Pictures are of a Standard blanket storage chest with a breadboard top and cedar bottom, that I make for myself. Dovetail construction throughout, and Cast Iron handles and no lock. The brass hinges on the chest allow for the placement of the chest up close against a wall or other obstruction, because they move forward when the chest is opened and do not allow the top to come into contact against the wall. I love making these chests for the nieces as they are a throwback to an earlier time. When dowry chests were the common first piece of furniture that a young woman would acquire, usually from an Uncle or other relative. Even though dowry is not much in common usage in America in the 21st century, The gift, I hope, is still appreciated.
John

You are the most talented man! Beautiful. I look forward to all of your posts.

oh boy...how nice are those....and how lucky are they to receive them

Those are beatiful!! What a nice gift. Thanks for sharing.

Beautiful and quietly elegant.
I love seeing real craftsmanship and thought put into every part of the construction (hinges, etc).

I'm guessing you don't own a nail gun? :mrgreen:

Thanks for sharing.

I actually do own a nail gun but it doesn't get used on these sorts of things. More for putting moldings on things, as they can place small brads into the exact place needed. I really don't use it much, but it is one of those tools that you are glad you have if you need it.
John

wow you are some talented person.... :thumbup:

What beautiful chests and workman ship. you are a very talanted person. BUT...
are those your quilts you are storing? if they are, i heard it mentioned at a quilt quild i belonged to at one time, that... quilts just being stored on a wooden shelf would discolor from having touched the wood at some point. this was said, as some antique quilts were being displayed. and they were saying why they were discolored. maybe you should line those chests, if they are your storage.

Beautiful work! Correct me if I'm wrong but is varnish on the inside? If so that could damage fabric over time. Polyurethane would be better? Don't know, just asking as my sister who restores old trunks says she puts archive wallpaper on the inside of trunks that will have quilts stored in them.

Beautiful chests You are very talented. Your nieces are very lucky to have you for an uncle.

Why couldn't I have an uncle like you? Those chests are beautiful! I am jealous.

Very nice. I love them ALL!

Those are amazing?? Do you make them to sell and if so, considering one would be willing to pick them up what do you charge? You can PM me if you sell them. Thanks

I think that is somewhat of an "old wives tale". It applies to storage of quilts on unfinished wood. Or wood that is oil finished. These are finished pieces of wood, with a modern finish that will not transfer the oils that are in wood, to anything they come into contact with. If you use an oil finish, then they will transfer the oils to the fabric they come into contact with over time. It is like the difference between Archival Matting and standard poster board matting that is used in picture framing. The best museums use the kind of finishes I use for the display of their items, So I feel that they are probably the final arbitrator of this sometimes heard story.
John

You do such beautiful work.

john, sounds like you know your stuff, better than me. thanks for the info.
i guess i am just careful in my house, because we built our house, and i think the closet shelves my husband built is just stained wood. period. i don't think it was polyur, or varnished or anything.

Your chest are lovely. Your niece's don't know how lucky they are to have such a talented and generous uncle. Thanks for sharing.

WOW! Will you be my uncle?
You are amazing!

terrific chests.

Wow you sure are one creative man. The chests are beautifully made.

My mom had a quilt in her cedar chest and had no problems and it had lots of white in it. I would be more afraid of hanging a folded quilt in the sun than folded in in a wood box. Those chests are beautiful.

Wwwooooowwwwww !!

How beautiful are those! My hub and I were talking yesterday how Craftsmanship is being lost in our throw away society. The younger generation is losing a treasure that can never be replaced.

Thanks much for sharing with us! Beautiful work!

Thanks much for sharing with us! Beautiful work!

wow your work is amazing.....you should sell your work...maybe you do....or maybe it wouldnt be fun anymore if you did it for work

Beautiful chest

Hubby is patiently waiting for me to put the backing on his quilt so it can go in his trunk . The top has been done for over a year. :shock: This is the trunk. We purchased it at a flea market. It was in terrible shape but we refinished it and now it looks pretty good.

Thanks for the info on wood finishes. I learned something new today.:)

That is quite some chest. I can see it arriving at a sailing ship loading dock, and being loaded onto the vessel for transit to far away places.
John

Gorgeous chests!!!!

John your nieces are so lucky to have received chests and quilts from you! I have a hope chest of my own that my dad originally made for me to use as a toy box. It now holds quilts I've made as well as one my grandmother and great grandmother made as well as dishes.

And thank you for clearing that up with the finishing wood. I was a little concerned over storing them in the chest but put them in anyway as I had no where else to store them! beautiful workmanship too!

Those are lovely! They remind me of my hubby who used to make me quilt racks and had made me a chest also. I love the craftmanship of the quilt chests and racks that go so well with our quilting treasures. Everyone should be so lucky to have such beautiful things made for them. Keep up the wonderful work. Mary

The chests are beautiful!

My kind of man! Your wife is so blessed to have you and your skills.

Norm Abram has nothing over you!!! Beautiful work.

Very, Very nice.

They are absolutely beautiful. You are a very blessed man. You can quilt & an excellent craftsperson. They are very lucky family members. You are a very thoughtful uncle.

debra

Lovely chests. You have some very lucky girls in your family. Thanks for sharing.

These are beautiful!!!! :thumbup: :thumbup: