Small Campaign Chest

A small sized mahogany Military Chest with brass edges.

The chest has four long drawers, as opposed to the standard two short over three long. They are lined in mahogany and have quadrant mouldings to the interior to strengthen them. The top drawer has beech linings and a fixed divider set to the left side.

The top half of the chest has a brass edge set in to both the top and the bottom. To the top it is on the front and side edges with the back free and to the bottom it is just to the front edge. If a brass edge was applied to the front edge of the bottom you would then have a double height of brass which would look awkward. The chest also has brass straps to the corners and in line with the separating boards for the drawers.

On close examination, it is evident that the top drawer was originally a secretaire but altered a very long time ago, probably in the 19th century. The first clue is the different wood used for the drawer lining; the second is the faint marks to the interior of the drawer front that indicate hinges for it to fall and the third are the cutouts to the dustboard to allow the secretaire drawer to be released for removal. The cabinet work to the replaced linings and the wear to the runners etc. indicate that the drawer was converted a very long time ago. As to why, we can only guess. Perhaps the secretaire drawer was damaged and it was easier to convert rather than repair it. Maybe the owner, over time, had less need for a desk and more for storage.

The back boards of the chest are made of oak and it sits on very low disc feet. They are fixed with screws that have become stubborn over time and difficult to remove. It is possible the feet have been cut down at sometime as a simple way of reducing the chest's height but the current height would have been consistent for a secretaire drawer to sit at.

Although this chest has been historically altered, the untrained eye would not know and it is still a very good looking, small campaign chest from the early to mid 19th Century.