Object Description
Here is a fine quality antique English George III inlaid solid oak mule chest, circa 1780, in good condition, with sought after proportions, displaying a lovely mellow colour & patination.
Summary:
• Item: Mule Chest
• Provenance England, UK
• Period: George III
• Circa: 1780
• Wood: Solid Oak
• Used for storing bedding & clothes
• Twin plank top
• Cross banded top & drawer fronts
• Satinwood & ebony inlay
• Faux drawers to front
• Joined construction
• Old replacement brass lid hinges
• Old replacement brass swan neck handles
• Original working lock to lid (with working key)
• Moulded bracket feet
• Original top, sides, back & bottom
• Original polish and patination
• Stunning colour & patination
• Free delivery to mainland England, Wales & southern Scotland*
• Free 14-day returns policy
Description:
Here is a fine quality antique English George III inlaid solid oak mule chest, circa 1780, in good condition, with sought after proportions, displaying a lovely mellow colour & patination. This was most likely a dowry / marriage chest, given to a newly wedded couple for their new home. This chest features a two-plank cross banded and moulded hinged top, with a set of faux drawer fronts below. The faux drawer fronts boast moulded and cross banded perimeter, as well as string and geometric design satinwood and ebony inlay. They also feature old replacement brass swan neck handles, possibly Victorian. The key escutcheons are original. The front corners of the chest are chamfered and display lovely diamond-shape and string inlay, with further inlay below. The lid is secured to the frame by old replacement butt hinges, most likely in the Victorian period. The chest interior features brass stays on either side, to help hold the lid open when in use. The interior is clean, dry and the coffer is practical and usable. The chest retains its original steel working lock (with key). The back of the chest retains the original backboards. The bottom is constructed of oak, as are the wide floorboards in the base of the chest. The chest has been made using the joined construction method; this is evident around the body of the frame. The chest terminates on good quality moulded bracket feet.
A type of furniture like this oak mule chest would have primarily been used for storing bedding and clothes. In the eighteenth century, built-in wardrobes did not exist! A mule chest was often the only item of furniture that a family owned. It is believed that such chests were called “mule chests” because slippers, called mules in the 17th and 18th century, were kept in the drawers of such chests. Blankets and bedding were stored above in the larger compartment above.
This mule chest boasts a mellow brown oak colour. As it retains the original polish, it has a fantastic colour and patination; this can only be achieved through age and years of care and cleaning it has received.
This oak mule chest would look great in a variety of rooms from the hallway, to the living room or bedroom, not only as an ornamental piece but also a useful storage chest.
Dimensions:
Height = 82.4cm or 32½” or 2ft 8½”
Width = 143.8cm or 56⅝” or 4ft 8⅝”
Depth = 52cm or 20½” or 1ft 8½”
Price:
The price for this item is £1,350 including free delivery to England, Wales & Southern Scotland*.
Free UK Delivery*:
We offer free delivery to mainland England, Wales, and Southern Scotland (anywhere south of Stirling). *We do not offer free delivery to locations north of Stirling in Scotland, Northern Ireland, or any British Islands off the mainland; for example, the Isle of Man, Isle of White and Channel Islands. If you live in one of the areas where we do not offer free delivery, please contact us for a delivery quote before purchasing the item. Delivery will be made by our specialised antique furniture delivery service, or in some cases we will use a courier service for distant deliveries.
Delivery times are usually 1-4 weeks depending on location; we aim to deliver the majority of items within 2 weeks. All items are professionally packaged and fully insured in transit, therefore, we can assure you, your items will be securely protected in transit and arrive safely with you.
Once you have purchased an item, we will contact you by email and/or telephone and provide you with a provisional delivery date, in order for you to confirm if it is suitable for you. Once you have confirmed you can accept delivery on the provisional delivery date, we will book the delivery in with our shippers and it then becomes a confirmed delivery date.
We will also provide you with our shippers’ contact details, in case you need to contact the driver on the day of delivery. It’s helpful if you can provide us with both the landline and mobile telephone number, in case the driver cannot reach you on one of the numbers on the day of delivery, they can contact you on your alternative number.
In order to be able to offer you free delivery, it is based on a 1-man delivery only. For any large items that require 2 people to lift the item, we ask that you are available at the time of delivery to be able to give our shipper a lift off the van and into your house with the item. If you are not able to lift items yourself, we ask that you have someone on hand at the time of delivery to assist our shipper with lifting the item.
Free 14 Days UK Returns & Refunds:
A free 14-day “no quibble” returns policy (from the date you receive the item) is available if you are not happy with this item. We will collect the item free of charge from you (we do not charge a return fee / collection fee). You will be given a full refund as long as the item is returned in the same condition. We will collect returns using our own specialist furniture delivery company. We will not accept returns via a courier service (due to experience of damaged items in transit). This refund policy only applies to deliveries to the UK.
UK Buyer Payment:
For UK buyers, we accept cash on collection or delivery; cheque, credit card, BACS (free bank to bank transfer) or PayPal. Payment is requested within 5 days of the sale. Payment must be cleared before the items are collected or delivered.
International Buyers:
If you live outside the UK and you would like to purchase this item, please contact us before purchasing it, so that we can obtain an accurate shipping quote and delivery lead-time. The shipping quote provided is a global estimate only. The actual shipping cost will vary by country and postcode. Due to the distances and costs involved with shipping outside the UK, a returns policy is therefore not available for international buyers. Before placing your order(s) please make sure this is the item for you. We request payment by bank transfer (we do not accept payment via PayPal, credit or debit cards for international purchases). Payment is requested within 10 days of the purchase. Payment must be cleared before the items are collected or delivered to our shippers. The advertised price of the item does not include the shipping cost, sales tax, import duty or custom fees.
Important information regarding PayPal payment:
We only accept payment from fully verified PayPal account holders with confirmed addresses only. Items will only be sent to the confirmed address registered in PayPal. If you purchase an item and your address is not confirmed, your payment will be refunded and the purchase cancelled. It only takes a few moments to verify and confirm your PayPal details.
About the Seller:
This item is being sold by Yola Gray Antiques who is an accredited member of LAPADA (the UK’s largest Trade Association of Professional Art and Antique Dealers) and CINOA. CINOA is the world association of Art & Antique dealer associations. All LAPADA & CINOA members abide by their strict code of practice by adhering to reputable standards of quality, expertise and integrity.
Yola Gray has dealt in fine art and antique furniture for over 40 years. Yola Gray has a special interest in Colonial furniture, specifically Colonial Four Poster Beds. Yola Gray also provides a variety of fine English Antique Furniture, Art and Fabrics to clients in the UK, Europe and further afield.
Please visit the Yola Gray website at www.yolagray.com for further items and information.
Ref. 41937