The Spice Chest:

Spices originating from Arabia were a valuable trade commodity in the Roman Empire. Owning spices was a symbol of wealth and spice chests were built in the 18th Century to store them. Brought to the American colonies by the Welch and English, the spice chest was prominently placed in homes to display affluence. Early examples of these pieces were built by Welsh craftsmen in Chester Pennsylvania. In today’s home, the spice chest still remains an elegant and useful piece.  Place one in an entrance hallway to store gloves, hats, scarfs and other odds and ends or in the kitchen to store spices, cutlery and linens.


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