Short Secretaire Campaign Chest

A mahogany, brass bound Military Chest.

The chest is fitted with a short, mid secretaire drawer flanked by two shorter plain drawers. These sit over three long drawers.

The secretaire interior is faced with burr walnut veneers and the writing surface has a maroon leather with a gilt tooled border. The layout is two pigeon holes flanking two short drawers with a long drawer below. The drawers have ebonized knob handles and the long drawer has dividers to the right hand side to take one inkwell and pens etc. There are slots for a removable fascia board to hold the interior drawers in during travel but like most others, it has long since disappeared. An old split to the bottom left corner of the secretaire drawer is evident but it has been restored. The replaced lock to the secretaire has its key.

The drawer fronts are cut with a cock bead to their edges to subtly lift the chest. The secondary wood to the drawer linings of this campaign chest is ash, with mouldings to the base of the drawer interiors. As to be expected, the chest splits in half and has replaced, removable feet. The two halves locate to each over on four lugs to the bottom section.

This is a well made, short drawer secretaire campaign chest probably made by one of the London makers. Late 19th Century.