Schrank is a German word that is actually a diminutive form or abbreviation of Kleiderschrank. (Kleider means “clothes” and schrank means “cabinet,” so literally a clothes cabinet.) These massive pieces of furniture (schrunken is the plural), like the one pictured here, are essentially wardrobes that were made in America in Germanic settlements in Pennsylvania and then later in the Midwest and Plains states. It is speculated that they were often “coming of age” pieces or wedding gifts to couples setting up housekeeping together, because they frequently appear with names or initials and are often dated. Pennsylvania Germans typically made them in cherry and walnut often with very “architectural,” dramatic panels and/or decorated them with light wood and sulphur inlay. When “plainer” woods such as pine and poplar were used, they were often painted with vibrant colors. The example here has all the classic elements of a schrank: heavily paneled; elaborate cornice; paint decoration in red, yellow and green (a popular color scheme in Germanic communities); and a name and date.
