Mahogany Campaign Chest With Secret Drawer

A brass bound mahogany Campaign or Military Chest attributable to Ross & Co.

This chest stands out for its hidden drawer for valuables, within the top right hand, short drawer. As can be seen, a shallow inner drawer is set back to the top of the drawer. It isn't revealed automatically but, with the drawer open, you can put a hand in and, using the cut out to the underside, pull it out. The drawer has dividers to give 3 compartments: 2 smaller ones lined in velvet and one full depth section. This unusual form of drawer is known to have been made by Ross of Dublin and we have had a similar chest with their brass name plaque in the past. This can be seen in our Archive under Campaign Chests or in Makers under Ross & Co.

There is more to the chest than just the valuables drawer that allows us to attribute it to Ross. The form of handle, the escutcheons, the shaped brass corner straps, the way the back boards are made, the fixing lugs etc. all point to the Irish maker.

The chest is well made, as you would expect of Ross. The drawer linings are ash and there is a key that works on all 3 long drawers. The top right drawer has a stronger Hobbs & Co. lock but the key is missing. The feet are removable on wooden threads. The circular shadow to the top right drawer was probably made by a fob hanging from the key and swinging round over time.

The chest has a good faded colour to the mahogany. The address details of 9, 10, 11 Ellis's Quay, to the previous chest we had, date it to after 1860. Late 19th Century.