The History of Dowry Chests Captured in Wood: Dendrochronological Research on Chests from the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes, Greece

Chests represented important piece of the household and sacral furniture until end 18th century. They were commonly used as containers, both for everyday needsand also special occasions such in case marriage/dowry chests. Nowadays chests can be found museums, monasteries, palaces, historic buildings, but alsoin private collections, with some them having great aesthetic, ethnographic historical interest. In current study we present results wood examinationof five exhibited Palace Grand Master Knights Rhodes, Greece. Most made walnut, while one conifer was useful further dendrochronological analysis. Macroscopic examination timber cross-dating suggest that species its construction is most probablyCedrus libani, originating from Turkey. 1698 AD outermost preserved (most recent) ring, placing chest’s during Early Modern period Europe,most likely at beginning Regarding origin, chest an example confirming early century there a trade betweenEurope East Aegean Islands, which then belonged to Ottoman Empire.