Reproduction Hope Chest

Reproduction Hope Chest | Features and Options Crafted in solid hardwood: Cherry – exotic color, stylish, strong, ages beautifully Oak – hard, dense, attractive grainy appearance Size options: Large – 46L x 20W x 21H Medium – 42L x 19W x 19H Finished on all 4 sides Variety of stain options Comes standard with functioning lock and key Includes spring loaded lid supports Price includes shipping The Amish Handcrafted Process Step 1: Design Customize your own wooden chest to fit your style! Pick out your wood species, chest size, unique textures, sliding trays and your own custom engraved name plate. Step 2: Schedule Expect to receive an email with estimated delivery date in 3-4 business days. We appreciate your interest and are very excited to build your chest or trunk. Step 3: Construction Made from quality hardwood with attention to detail! We offer cedar, cherry, oak and painted maple wood species. Choose what suits your home best! Step 4: Delivery Time * Due to exceptionally high demand the wait time between ordering and delivery is currently much longer than usual. All new orders will immediately be placed on our shop schedule which is booked for several months in advance at the moment. Thank you for understanding! That’s it! Enjoy For Years! Once your package arrives, the rest is pure enjoyment. Simply unpack your chest, place it at its desired location, store your belongings inside, and enjoy for years to come! And who knows, maybe someday your grandchildren will be using that very chest to store their own precious belongings. For more details on the Amish Handcrafted Process, check out the steps on our About Us page. About Us What is a Hope Chest?             The hope chest derived its name because it was designed to symbolize “hope” in a marriage. In preparation for marriage in the future, a young lady would traditionally fill her chest with belongings that she would need. The bride-to-be would store items in her wooden chest such as clothes, books, dishes, blankets, and any other personal belongings that she needed for marriage. Many of the items in the chest were handmade by the young woman to show her skillfulness, adeptness, and her preparedness to enter adult hood. For more fascinating details and facts about the hope chest, check out our blog. History             Hope chests date all the way back to the 15th century where they were originally used as a form of payment in a marriage. The tradition came from arranged marriages centuries ago where the groom and his family were expected to provide dowry such as labor, animals, or money. At the same time, in anticipation for her marriage, a young lady’s family would provide her with personal items that she would need for her future life. The potential bride would store these items in her wooden chest to be taken with her on the day of her wedding. It was symbol of significance for their new marriage. Although these chests are not commonly used for dowry payments anymore, many people still use them as a storage chest for family heirlooms or items that will be passed down further generations. The hope chest is a symbol of the past, present, and future- all within its depths. Hope Chest Used Today             Although these chest are no longer used as a dowry payment, many cultures, like the Amish, still use a hope chest as a wedding gift to a young couple. Instead of storing items in their chest in advance, mothers will often give their daughters some of the priceless treasures that have been passed down to them over the years. With each generation that passes, the chest accumulates more and more timeless family treasures that are coveted by the whole family. Not only is a hope chest a priceless gift, it also brings generations together as they share the treasures that they have received as well as any that they have made. Hope Chest Wood Types             Our reproduction hope chests for sale come in two wood types – oak and cherry. If you wish to have the cedar wood benefits, each chest comes standard with a cedar bottom, and you can even choose to add cedar lining to the inside of the wooden chest. In addition, if you wish to have an entire chest made from cedar, you can check out our cedar chests options in our “basic cedar series”.   Hope Chest Features Working lock/Spring Lid Support             Like a lot of chests, our reproduction hope chests also come standard with a working lock. With a lock, you will be able secure your most valuable items. Also, spring loaded hinges are installed in every one our hope chests. Each hinge is designed to hold the lid open while you are loading or unloading your belongings. Now you no longer have to worry about the lid falling on your innocent fingers! Custom Engraved Name Plate             All of our reproduction chests for sale come with an optional customized name plate. You can choose to write whatever you like to personalize your hope chest for your family and the generations to follow.