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at The Evergreen State College

Book chest

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Book Chest


Book chests were used in Middle Ages to hold and protect books, especially since these handwritten texts were rare and prone to damage from careless handling or water damage.

Construction


The chests, usually made of wood, sometimes had iron straps to hold them closed, and metal reinforcements on the chest corners. They were often secured with multiple locks whose keys were likely distributed among separate persons[1]. (Each lock, being handmade, had only one key that fit correctly.)

References