Why did a once important object, which in the past had an absurdly large influence in a woman’s life, became unnecessary?

In Lithuania the whole girl’s life depended on one skill - weaving. If the  girl is hard-working and making beautiful fabrics, she will gather a good dowry and marry a good man. Women were judged by the beauty of their fabrics, not by their character traits and personality.

This dowry chest merges in the environment, becomes a part of it and transforms with it. This allows to focus not on the material chest, but to think about the person owning it.