The largest of the three chests shown is a copy of the first chest I bought for my Barber Surgeon's display. It was so admired that many fellow re-enactors said, "Where did you get that from?" And so my business was born. Importing from India is a risky business and soon the supply dried up and fashions change. My old wholesalers went Chinese. I scoured the length and breadth of Britain for replacements but none were to be had. However I did find all the lovely things I have been selling up to now. I could never guarentee a continuing source of supply.

The only option was to buy enough for two years and reorder after one!

Here you see my version of a WORK CHEST. I get them in sets of three, the largest having three drawers underneath.

These have visible medieval hinges that are more reliable in a heavy lid than modern ones which can tend to split the wood if the board to which they are attached is too thin.

There is a top section that has several compartments on the sides and back and a lift out section at the front. The lift out section gives access to the inside of the box and the

....Work Chest continued

other sections can be lifted out to give complete access to the inside of the box for storage of long items.

I have found that you can display your Living History equipment in the top section and either use the undersection to hide contraband items such as modern tools or to store larger items.

There are three sizes:

A. Largest size box 27X17X13” tray size 17” and width 2/3 size of box width. Depth of tray upto 1/3 below from opening of box. (excluding the cover) This has three drawers below. Price £140 reduced from £165

B. Medium size box 22X14X11” tray 14” and width 2/3 size of box width. Depth of tray upto 1/3 below from opening of box. (excluding the cover)

Price £105

C. Small size box 18X12X9” tray 12” and width 2/3 size of the box width. Depth of tray upto 1/3 below from opening of box. (excluding the cover)

Price £65

With chain at one side. Handle on both sides.

Slide Top Boxes

These boxes are fairly universal through all periods of history but they are particularly useful before we see the introduction of the drawer. They come with a set of loose sections to use in any combination to compartmentalise the box. The slide top is like those found on the old style chess boxes.

They are ideal for Roman through Medieval and still continue in use today. They would make good herb boxes.

for ease of packing they come as a 3 pcs nested sliding boxes set as illustrated.

Sizes

Small 9X12X3.4” with 6 compartments. £ 19

Medium 12X16X4.1” with 8 compartments. £ 29

Large 15X20X5.1” with 12 compartments. £ 39

Butter Churn

For all those budding Milk Maids amongst, at least those without hairy hands according to Thomas Tusser here we have a butter churn, height of cylinder 19” long, Dia top inside 5”, bottom Dia. 8.2” outer, depth top to bottom 17.8”. The finish will be a plain wood, not stained as in the illustration.

Price £39

Like any wooden treen item they have to be kept wet to be watertight. Immerse in water for 48 hours before use.

Excerp from

Thomas Tusser's 500 Good Pointes of Husbandrie

A LESSON FOR

DAIRY MAID CISLEY

OF TEN TOPPINGS GESTS

As wife that will So Cisse that serves

good husband plese, must marke this note

Must shun with skill What fault deserves

such gests as these. a brushed cote

.............................................for more see link above.

William Clowes Medical Chest

A double door chest with 8 drawers, size of box 16x16x16” height up to drawer 12” The front flap closes up to keep the drawers in place. The drawers are half the depth of the box ~ 8". The 8 top sections to the back are deep like a wine box. The front 8 section stand on top of the drawers. Each section come with a cross-divider (item 5)to make 4 small sections. Of course it is not exact but neither are the various illustrations of this chest. Price £140

This is an illustration of the William Clowes medicine chest taken from his Booke of Observations of 1596

page 140.

Wooden Tankards

Similar to those found on the Mary Rose. They come in two different sizes

Size Pitched Untreated

Pint + £24 £19

Quart + £39 £33

Like any wooden treen item they have to be kept wet to be watertight. Immerse in water for 48 hours before use.

Because of this we offer them also with a layer of inert "Brewer's Pitch" on the inside. Unfortunately this will decrease the volume