Hungarian folk-painted wooden chests

A painted wooden chest can serve as a keepsake gift or a piece of storage furniture. Historic examples often place painted ornament on the front and lid, so those faces matter when a chest will sit at the foot of a bed.

Compare the outside size with the usable interior. In an older chest, ask for photographs of the hinges, underside and corners. In a new piece, check whether the pattern is hand-painted or printed.

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