Campaign Chest Coffee Table

A teak Campaign or Military Chest Coffee Table.

This is the top half of an Aldershot or Hut Chest that has become separated from its painted pine cupboard bottom half. For travel, the smarter teak top section would slide into the bottom cupboard section. The chest has some line marks to its sides made from rubbing against a protrusion to the cupboard interior every time it was placed in or taken out of the cupboard. Its not uncommon for the cupboard sections to be discarded by later generations who either had no use for it as a full chest or didn't understand how it was set up. This does leave a top section though which is a perfect height for use as a coffee table or storage at the end of a bed.

The chest has brass strap work and flush handles. The drawer linings are teak and have quadrants to the interior sides. The chest was a working piece of travel furniture and its constant packing and unpacking etc. has left a few battle scars. There is a historic patch to the right side of the top, to the middle at the edge. It is approximately 2 by 1 1/2 inches in size. There is also an old water ring to the top which is visible but isn't distracting.

The top halves of Aldershot Chests work very well as a coffee table which also give plenty of storage space. Circa 1900.