What is a tudor blanket box?

A tudor blanket box is a heavy wooden chest, often referred to as a coffer, built during the sixteenth or seventeenth century. These pieces were utilised in early homes for secure storage of textiles, valuables, and household goods.

How were these chests used?

Households used these sturdy wooden boxes to store blankets, clothing, and important documents safely away from damp floors. Because fitted furniture was uncommon, they also functioned occasionally as casual seating or tables within the room.

English oak serves as the primary material for the vast majority of sixteenth-century storage chests and coffers. Walnut and inlaid wood appear less frequently among surviving examples from this period.

How do I identify the period?

Dating relies on construction methods such as boarded six-plank assembly, hand-forged iron hardware, and period-specific carving styles like linenfold. Reference to sixteenth or seventeenth-century design motifs helps distinguish authentic early pieces from later revival items.