Thread: Why do pirate chests and other chests have domed lids?

You can always cheat and laminate 3 layers of ply around a former to get a curved lid.

I'll stick my oar in about the history of it - the simple round top chests, where the lid resembles a slice off a cylinder seem to have originated from the hollowed log type chests of which a few survive - most of the surviving examples are plank made for the bottom and hollowed out on top. The Mastermyr chest interestingly is hollowed out underneath and is flat on top. This type of chest seems to have been popular with the wealthy for travelling chests where they might be exposed to water, which would not pool on the lid - there are a number of illustrations of them in use but I can't think of any examples dating between the 1400's and the 1800's.

The other type of chest people seem to be referring to is the 'humpback' chest, which was a traveller's sea chest for goods that were wanted at the end of the journey rather than during it dating from the late 1700's?. The barrel coopered or humpback lid was even stronger than the simple semi-cylindrical lid, shed water well & was intended to discourage the crew from stacking heavy objects on top of the chest - like that would work in real life. The same travellers would have several chests with flat lids that they kept in their accommodation with clothes & food for the voyage (you had to supply your own food on board until the late 1800's).

The later chests with a curved lid are sometimes illustrated with a hinged board that could be used to keep a quantity of goods inside the lid.

I'm with John - fit more loot!

Originally Posted by bsrlee

I'll stick my oar in about the history of it - the simple round top chests, where the lid resembles a slice off a cylinder seem to have originated from the hollowed log type chests of which a few survive - most of the surviving examples are plank made for the bottom and hollowed out on top. The Mastermyr chest interestingly is hollowed out underneath and is flat on top. This type of chest seems to have been popular with the wealthy for travelling chests where they might be exposed to water, which would not pool on the lid - there are a number of illustrations of them in use but I can't think of any examples dating between the 1400's and the 1800's.

The other type of chest people seem to be referring to is the 'humpback' chest, which was a traveller's sea chest for goods that were wanted at the end of the journey rather than during it dating from the late 1700's?. The barrel coopered or humpback lid was even stronger than the simple semi-cylindrical lid, shed water well & was intended to discourage the crew from stacking heavy objects on top of the chest - like that would work in real life. The same travellers would have several chests with flat lids that they kept in their accommodation with clothes & food for the voyage (you had to supply your own food on board until the late 1800's).

The later chests with a curved lid are sometimes illustrated with a hinged board that could be used to keep a quantity of goods inside the lid.

You sound like a man who has done a bit of research on this matter. I'm impressed. Do you happen to have pictures of some of the different kinds of chests you mentioned?

We'd all love to see them.

Chests of various sorts are very popular with the various re-enactor groups, which is where a lot of my current activity is aimed - not that I get a lot actually produced, I seem to be spending a lot of time (and money) getting my workshop set up so I can make something worthwhile.

A big current impediment to chest building is the lack of really suitable locks - what is the point of spending a few hundred dollars on some really nice timber (or even a hundred for fair pine) and then using a rubber band to keep the thing shut. I can get quite reasonable hinges from Lee Valley, but all the hasp/locks I can find online are both expensive & when they actually arrive are of poor quality.

Luckily I have a fair bit of metal working gear, but if I start making locks I won't be making chests - so I can end up running in circles until I disappear up my own fundament in a puff of smoke.

Anyhow, keep an eye out & I may get round to clipping some pictures & posting them either on this thread or in a separate thread by themselves.

sorry to break up the impressive history lesson, but does anyone know why they are called pirates? apparently they just ARRRR........Sorry, couldn't help myself....

Because Gilbert and Sullivan needed something that went with Penzance and flowed off the tongue.

Oh Man ,You guys must be a real hoot at parties.

Originally Posted by Richard0470

sorry to break up the impressive history lesson, but does anyone know why they are called pirates? apparently they just ARRRR.......

I guess them "Rats" like Pie