by Amy Fairbanks
The hope chest can be described simply as a place where a young woman may store clothing and household goods, such as linen and silver, in preparation for marriage.
Its first documented use was during the Italian Renaissance era (1600’s) and it went by the name of cassone (Italian for “chest”). During this time, the cassone was elaborately decorated with engraved pictures. It was not uncommon for the pictures to tell a story—from Biblical accounts such as Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, to Greek mythology such as Apollo.
Earlier use of a chest for the bridal dowry is likely, though little documented. The wooden chest itself has been around since ancient times. In more recent years, the art of engraving the chest has slowly evolved with the furniture style. The name also started changing—the cassone or dowry chest has come to be known as a “glory box,” “wedding chest,” or “marriage chest.”
Depending on where the chest was crafted, antique models were made primarily from a hardwood such as walnut. Today, we find the hope chest made most commonly from cedar wood, valued for its natural moth repellent scent.
A wooden chest makes a nice addition to a living area. Young women who filled a hope chest took to their new home a valuable piece of furniture. This was especially handy for the new household that may not have a lot of furnishings.
For a generation or more of the 1900’s, the hope chest went “out of fashion.” Fortunately, it is finding a revival in the younger generation today, especially among conservative young women.
The beautiful tradition of the hope chest has been lost on our modern society. Many do not see continuity between generations, and few believe that those who lived before us have anything to offer our “enlightened” minds. Our ancestors would mourn our folly. We have much to learn from our parents, grandparents, and ancestors spanning the generations before us. I am immensely thankful for the carefully preserved letters and photographs that have been passed down to me—the resident family genealogist—and I am even more grateful to my parents for teaching me to embrace and love the beliefs and traditions of their parents and grandparents.
It is not enough to store beautiful things in an heirloom chest and hope for the best. We must impress beautiful thoughts and high ideals upon our girls if we hope to see their lives blossom into rewarding womanhood. A hope chest is a wonderful way to bring to life an old tradition or begin a new one. As we place treasures into hope chests for our daughters, may we also invest time and love into their hearts so that they enter life with a storehouse of love, womanly skills, able minds, and contentment.
-Jennie Chancey, “Reviving the Hope Chest”, Vision Forum
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