Object Description
This Georgian mahogany Campaign Chest is earlier than most on the market. Although the chest has turned roundels to the corners and a wide decorative moulding to the top and bottom it has no overhanging timber that might suffer during travel. The turned mahogany knobs and replaced feet are threaded and so removable to leave the chest as 2 flat sided boxes for travel. The secretaire drawer has 2 banks of 4 short drawers to either side with 4 pigeon holes above a long drawer and an open compartment below. The top section has 2 short drawers below the secretaire. Both the secretaire fall and these drawers have a double reed moulding to their edges. The bottom section has a cupboard with 2 linen press slides. The top section has a steel lug to each corner which locate to steel plates to the corners of the bottom section. This is a very interesting chest and fits into the earlier period before a common design for British chests was established. The quality of the cabinet work is very good and the roundels and unusual moulding set it apart from other campaign chests. They may also point to it being either Irish or Scottish. Early 19th Century.