European furniture, Late Middle Ages

Medieval furniture was primarily made of oak, since it was easy to obtain, strong and durable. Perhaps the most important piece of medieval furniture was the chest or casket. Chests were originally made from hollow tree trunks banded with iron, hence the origin of the modern word 'trunk'. A type of chest known as the hutch could be used for packing household possessions when traveling, but it was also used as a seat, a desk, a table, and a couch for sleeping purposes. When not traveling, the hutch was used for storage.