Old Sweetwater

Old Sweetwater

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Dutch Hope Chest and Gouda


When I grew up, girls had "hope chests." No, it had nothing to do with cosmetic surgery....that's a whole different story.  They were wooden boxes or trunks (usually cedar-lined) that held items to be used when you got married, or "went off into the world" on your own. These are two  beautiful examples of antique hope chests, or blanket chests. Yes, they were already sold. Both are Dutch inspired. They make great coffee tables as well as toy chests when retro-fitted with safety hinges.
Did anyone else have a hope chest?  The Netherlands is also famous for their cheese (among many other things).  I'm a big smoked Gouda fan.  The open-faced sandwich is made of two fried eggs; bacon beneath and melted Gouda cheese on top!   I'm posting out of town, so I'll be checking comments only once. Thanks for your patience! *smile*

 

23 comments:

Semi Expat said...

These are just gorgeous chests... and the 'sarni' sounds pretty delish too!! :-) xx

Anonymous said...

I love the whole 'hope-chest' idea! My mum used to go on about it when I was younger, and I don't think I fully got the concept... I will endevour to create one for each of my girls!
:)

Rita said...

Janean, my grandfather built me a hope chest when I was young. It was just a plain wooden chest, but I would not take the world for it. I treasure it as though it were an expensive, ornate chest! I have no girls to pass it down to, but will probably give it to my granddaughter/grandniece one day.

Anonymous said...

Janean my dear.. just lovely hope chests. The Dutch do make the best cheese.. (imho there).

I still have my hope chest, hubs refinished it a few years back and it sits in the 'guest bedroom' stuffed with old dolls and yarns. I seem to get lost when I open the lid from time to time.. daydreams fo the past which brings a smile.

Enjoy your wee trip.. be safe and can't wait to see if you purchased anything special!!

with love
~Oli

Oklahoma Granny said...

Both chests are beautiful. I especially like the 1st one. I didn't have a hope chest but my daughter did.

Rebecca Lewis said...

Yes I do have a Hope chest! It's not as decorative as these Dutch examples, however it was made for me when I was 16 while my father was still in the Navy, he brought it up from Virginia one weekend during a weekend leave.
I have used it over the years as a coffee table and remember my children using it to steady themselves as they were learning to stand and walk (I also remember them bumping their heads against it when they fell~ ouch). It has baby blankets, some special baby outfits, and linens it it right now.
And Gouda cheese is another memory from childhood! My father loves it and we would have it for special occasions and parties ~ often when my father came home on leave. It is fabulous ~ I love it...nothing is as Gouda as that! (Sorry, couldn't resist!)
Have a great day ~ Rebecca

~ ~ Ahrisha ~ ~ said...

Your sandwich looks yummy. Not much better than melted cheese is there?

Of course I had a hope chest and I still have it . .somewhere. I choose it so many years ago when I had no decorating sense at all. Best keep it hidden.

Debby@Just Breathe said...

No I never had one but I wanted one. I still have the little sample one they gave out in HS.

Blondie's Journal said...

I didn't have a hope chest but my sister did. Every young girl's magazine featured them. They were expensive!!

I have never tried gouda but I actually have some from a gift basket. Maybe I will try the sandwich!

xoxo
Jane

Midsummer Stitches said...

They are stunning, but cant take my eyes of the food! :-)

Suz said...

They are beautiful
lucky person who has one handed down

my hope chest was a cardboard box under my bed where I saved gas station dishes and glasses that my now husband used to proudly bring me
Oh how life has changed

Pondside said...

Yes, I had a Hope Chest, and when my daughter turned 19 we bought an antique Hope Chest for her. it's a lovely old tradition and a beautiful first piece of antique furniture.

Lois Christensen said...

I have my grandmother's cedar hope chest sitting at the foot of my bed. My grandmother was born in 1889 and it came with her from Germany when she moved to the States many years ago. It's a precious treasure to me!!! Enjoy your day!

Jayme Goffin, The Coop Keeper said...

I love love love gouda cheese! Yer makin' me hungry!

Beverly @ My Sew Sweet Studio said...

These are beautiful. I always wanted a "hope chest", but had to settle for a drawer in my dresser. The first thing in it was a pair of pillowcases I embroidered.
That openfaced sandwich looks so yummy, I have to go fix something to eat.

Marla said...

We have my mother and mother-in-law's hope chests. What a wonderful thought behind the idea of this piece of furniture ...hope

Angie @ thejunkranch said...

Aren't they gorgeous?! I started a hope chest for my daughter...she still asks sometimes if I've put anything new in there.

Vicki said...

Beautiful chests. Most of the ones I have seen were mass produced. These look handmade and hand decorated. Lovely.

Vicki said...

Beautiful antique chests!

I Purr-Furr to Craft said...

love this post, the chests are beautiful, You are making me hungry!

Lucy said...

I adore smoked cheese. I buy it and it never makes it to a sandwich, but straight to my mouth! I am old enough to have shared a hope chest with my sister. Her hopes were more fulfilled than mine were!

Janean said...

Beverly @ My Sew Sweet Studios, do you have a website we all could visit? Just wondering! Thank you for your sweet comments you leave...(hug)

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