Large Campaign Chest By Maynard & Co.

A mahogany Campaign or Military Chest by Maynard & Co.

The chest is taller in size than most and has the standard 2 short over 3 long drawers configuration. A cock bead mould is cut to the drawer edges. The design of the flush handles is the first indicator of its earlier age, backed up by the deep rich colour of the mahogany. The drawer linings are oak with pine bases and quadrant mouldings to the side interiors to strengthen them to the base board.

As you would expect, the chest splits into 2 halves with the replaced turned feet removable. The top of the bottom half has 4 lugs, one to each corner, to unite it to the top half when set up in camp. It is probable that the back boards of the chest have had some historic restoration. There is a difference in colour to some of the boards and the top boards run vertically whilst the bottom run horizontally. It certainly looks like any work that was done was a good number of years ago.

The brass lined holes to the top, for a now missing fiddle gallery, and the iron carrying handles to the sides suggest that the chest was made with use on board ship in mind. This would tie in with the history of Maynard & Co. who were agents and suppliers of everything you would need for your journey to India or the Far East.

Their large labels are pasted to the inside back of the top left hand short drawer and the top long drawer to the bottom section. Both labels are worn but it is clear they are for Maynard & Co. with their address of 27 Poultry. They moved to this address in 1831 and the business name changed when Harris became a partner in 1843. More can be read about the company by clicking on their name above or looking in our Makers section.

It is probable that Maynard commissioned the chest from a London cabinet maker. We have had 3 chests with Maynard labels before and there is little to confirm that they were all made by the same workshop. As the company offered such a wide range of items for the traveller, as well as booking cabins and offering travel intelligence, this is perhaps not surprising.

The address and company name change gives us a 12 year time period of 1831 to 1843.