The French, in the 13th century, were among the first to relieve the plainness of the chest with decoration, covering the planks with elaborate wrought-iron scrolls. One of the most outstanding chests decorated with wrought-iron work is preserved in the Museo de Artes Decorativas at the Palacio de la Virreina in Barcelona. Many pictorial scenes were carved on the sides of the chests, especially chivalric scenes such as St. George and the dragon or jousting knights. Architectural forms continued to be imitated during the Renaissance, and as late as the 16th century the chest was still an important piece of furniture. In France, where Italian forms were copied, the front of the chest usually had a single panel to allow greater freedom of decoration.
Chests are among the earliest pieces of American furniture.
Examples with flat carvings of leaves, flowers, and vines are known to have been made in the Connecticut River valley in the late 17th century, whereas more austere chests, with geometric carving, sometimes painted, were made along the coast of Massachusetts. Marriage chests made by Germans in Pennsylvania in the 18th century, decorated with inlay and sometimes the name of the owner, were based on southern German models. See also chest of drawers. Much country furniture is naive, with the best of such examples falling into the category of folk art. The furniture is sturdy, rarely delicate in design or workmanship, and restricted in its types.