Victorian Campaign Chest

A mahogany Campaign or Military Chest with an unusual drawer combination.

The chest has five short drawers over three long. The larger, middle short drawer looks like it should be a secretraire drawer but its not. Its flanked to either side with 2 smaller drawers that are half the height of the middle. Below is one long drawer with the other two long drawers to the bottom section of the chest.

Each drawer has a Hobbs lock and they all work to the same key, which is in itself a little unusual. Normally you would only use a lock as good as a Hobbs to one drawer. To have eight, and to all work to the same key, is notable. The drawer linings are mahogany as opposed to oak or ash which you might expect of an English chest of this date. They also have quadrant mouldings for strength to the interior long corners.

The campaign handles to the drawers and the brass banding to each board joint are gilt brass. The number of brass straps to the board joints greatly increase their strength. The chest stands on replaced, turned and removable feet.

A close look shows that some of the drawers have bruising to their top edge where an attempt has been made to leaver them but this is fairly common with campaign chests. As is the odd chip to the sides where the two parts meet, caused by a rushed assembly. At 42 inches, this chest is 3 inches wider than a standard English campaign chest of the period.

The drawer configuration, the Hobbs locks, the width and the mahogany linings all stand out on this chest to make it better than a standard military chest of the period. Circa 1875.