Object Description
An Extremely Good Quality Mid 19th Century, William IV Period, Mahogany Wellington Chest Of Drawers, Having Well Figured Veneers Throughout, With Rectangular Top Over Concealed Frieze Drawer And Various Other Drawers Including Secretaire, Retaining Original Turned Wooden Knobs, Flanked By Pilasters With Attractive Carved Decoration Top And Bottom.
It is commonly believed that the first Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, commissioned the first chest of this type, ie a tall bank of drawers secured by hinged locking pilasters, to take with him and carry around various battlefields.
From around 1820 onwards they are found in a huge variety of shapes and sizes and they also vary a great deal in terms of both quality and the wood which they are constructed from.
This piece is constructed from rich, well figured mahogany and has a real importance to its design, standing both proudly and elegantly at the same time. It is incredibly robust, yet at the same time impossibly elegant and has clearly been well loved, plus well used throughout the years of its life.
A huge advantage of this type of chest is that it offers a slightly different and more unusual perspective to a room in terms of height and proportion. The drawers are incredibly functional when used for items that you don’t want to be buried at the bottom of much larger drawers as can often be the case.
Circa 1840.
Height – 48.5in.
Width – 28.25in.
Depth – 19in.