Coffers

The Ancient Greeks and Roman stone coffers are the earliest surviving examples. Antique coffers were used to store just about everything from bed linen to beer. In the 12th century Henry II instructed six plank coffers or antique coffers to be put into all churches for cash contributions, for the relief of the holy hand.
After a thousand years or so, somebody added a long drawer then two short drawers and the antique coffer or antique chest became an antique mule chest, born about c.1610. This was closely followed by the antique chest of drawers.