Chifferobes, Armoires, Gentleman’s Chests & Gentleman’s Mule Chests: The Surprisingly Interesting History of Furniture Storage

...And why these beautifully crafted pieces still have a place in your home today.

When you hear the words armoire, chiffonier, chifferobe, gentleman’s chest or gentleman’s mule chest, you might wonder whether you're shopping for furniture—or trying to remember the cast of an old British mystery.

But behind those wonderfully old-fashioned names are some very clever ideas about storage. And many of them are just as useful today as they were generations ago.

Especially when the house is about to be full of guests.

Before there were walk-in closets...

It's easy to forget how much we rely on built-in closets today.

For much of furniture history, clothing, linens and household belongings needed their own furniture. Chests, cupboards, wardrobes and armoires provided storage that was portable, beautiful and—importantly—built to last.

The armoire, for example, evolved as a large, freestanding cupboard for storing clothing. Rather than being part of the architecture of a room, it was the storage.

Over time, furniture makers kept finding ways to combine functions and make storage more useful.

And that's where some of our favorite furniture names come in.

The Chiffonier: A Fancy Name for a Handy Chest

Let's start with chiffonier.

The word comes from French and originally referred to a small cabinet associated with cloth, needlework and odds and ends. In American furniture terminology, a chiffonier generally came to mean a tall, narrow chest of drawers, sometimes topped with a mirror.

In other words: a lot of storage in a relatively compact footprint.

Not a bad idea at all.

And then someone apparently decided that one storage function wasn't enough.

The Chifferobe: Two Pieces in One

A chifferobe combines a wardrobe and a chest of drawers in one piece. The name is a blend of chiffonier and wardrobe, and while chifferobe is a commonly used spelling today, you may also see it spelled chifforobe. The result is a tall, versatile storage piece with space for hanging clothes alongside drawers for folded clothing and other belongings.

The chifferobe became particularly associated with the American South and was advertised in the Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalog in the early 20th century as a relatively new furniture invention.

And its basic idea still makes perfect sense:

Why have two pieces of furniture when one can do both jobs?

Today, a chifferobe can be especially useful in a guest room, where you may want hanging space and drawers without filling the room with multiple large pieces.

Then There's the Gentleman’s Chest

The gentleman's chest sounds as though it should come with a top hat and a pocket watch.

Fortunately, you don't need either.

The name refers to a type of chest designed around men's clothing and storage needs, often incorporating a combination of drawers and hanging or enclosed storage. Like many furniture forms, its exact configuration has evolved over time.

And despite the name, there's no reason this piece needs to belong exclusively to a gentleman.

Today, it's simply beautiful, highly functional storage.

Which brings us to our favorite name of all...

The Gentleman’s Mule Chest

We admit it: gentleman's mule chest is hard to beat.

It sounds like either a piece of furniture or a very opinionated farm animal.

A mule chest is traditionally a low chest with drawers, often combining a large storage compartment with drawers below. The form developed from earlier blanket chests and was used for clothing, bedding and linens. Examples date back to the 17th century.

But the really fun part is the name.

Nobody is entirely sure where “mule” came from.

One theory is that the chest is a hybrid—combining the functions of a blanket chest and a chest of drawers, much like a mule is a hybrid animal. Other theories have connected the name to slippers known as “mules” or to the idea of chests being transported on pack animals. The evidence for these explanations is mixed, so the exact origin remains something of a furniture-history mystery.

Personally, we think the mystery makes the name even better.

Why These Pieces Still Make Sense Today

Here's the thing about all this history:

The storage problem hasn't changed nearly as much as the furniture names have.

We still have blankets.

We still have towels.

We still have linens.

And when family and friends come to stay, suddenly we have a lot more of everything.

A beautiful storage piece can provide a place for:

• Extra blankets and pillows
• Guest sheets and towels
• Table linens and napkins
• Serving pieces and entertaining essentials
• Board games, cards and puzzles
• Seasonal decorations
• Guest-room necessities
• Clothing and overnight bags
• All the things you don't necessarily want sitting out—but want within easy reach

And unlike a plastic storage bin hidden in a closet, a beautifully crafted armoire, chifforobe or chest adds something to the room while it stores what's inside.

Storage Worth Keeping

That's perhaps the best thing about these traditional furniture forms.

They weren't designed to be disposable.

A well-made solid-wood storage piece can become part of your home for decades, changing purpose as your needs change.

The piece that holds guest linens today might hold clothing tomorrow. The armoire that serves a guest room could eventually find a home in a hallway, bedroom or dressing area.

Good furniture doesn't just solve today's storage problem. It becomes part of the home.

Come See the Possibilities

At Heartland Amish Furniture, we offer a wide range of handcrafted storage furniture—including armoires, chifferobes, gentleman’s chests and gentleman’s mule chests—with many styles and configurations to choose from.

While our 6,500-square-foot showroom can't accommodate every piece we offer, you can see 11 bedroom suites on display, including some impressive, generously sized dressers that stand nearly five feet tall. They give you a chance to experience the craftsmanship, proportions and details of our furniture in person and explore the different styles available.

With an extensive library of wood, stain and hardware options, we can help you create a piece that's beautiful, functional and uniquely yours.

If you're getting your home ready for holiday guests—or simply looking for a better way to store the things you already have—come see what's possible in our Asheville showroom.

Sometimes the furniture with the strangest name turns out to be exactly what your home needs.