Half Campaign Chest on Stand

An interesting teak Half Military Chest on Stand.

This two drawer chest is interesting because it can be turned upside down and packed within its stand for travel. Whether it was originally made to do so or was in fact a two part campaign chest, we do not know. We have had Anglo Indian cabinets and cellaretes in the past that have been made to sit into their stands as this chest does, so its a known packing method. The other possibility is that this was originally a two part chest and at some point in its life, the bottom half was damaged or became separated with the stand then made for it. The stand has a pegged construction and certainly has age to it. If it was not made at the same time as the chest, it was made not long after.

The underside of the chest has two square lug holes. We have made a pair of removable bars with corresponding square lugs to fix to the underside of the base. When sat on its stand they give it a more secure fitting but, because they are removable, the chest top can also be sat on the floor as a coffee table or at the end of a bed, giving it flexibility for modern use.

The chest has turned knob handles that sit within a recess to the drawer fronts to give a flush finish. The inset escutcheons are ebony and a diamond lozenge shape, commonly seen on Anglo Indian furniture. The back is panelled. This chest is practical for its smaller size and versatility in use. Late 19th century.