Walnut Sideboard Campaign Chest

A walnut Military Chest with three drawers to the top and painted sides.

This is an unusual chest due to its faux walnut painted sides. The sides also have three holes to the top section and two for the bottom. It was meant to be used as a Sideboard Chest, that is to say its upright packing cases would be bolted on to make a long piece of furniture. The packing cases have long since departed company.

The painted sides are in contrast to the front of the chest which has veneered figured walnut and an applied moulding to the edges of each drawer. The chest is well made with ash linings and interior quadrants and all the drawers having good Hobbs locks. Typically, most campaign chests only have a stronger lock to one drawer. Gilt brass straps have been used at every intersection to the front for additional strength. The painted sides were a way to save money being much cheaper than solid straight grain walnut as you might expect but no expense has been spared elsewhere. It was probably thought that it would mostly be used set up as a Sideboard Chest and the sides would therefore be hidden. This is the first example we have seen made this way.

Another unusual feature and a curiosity are the two pear shaped slots fitted to the front of the base board. They were clearly designed for something to slot into but we are not sure what. It was probably something to do with adding a 'finishing touch' rather than packing the chest. The number of bolt holes to the sides of the chest are far greater than you would expect to see with one or perhaps two being more typical. The centre drawer looks like it might be a secretaire but it is not. The replaced turned feet are removable. The back of the top of the chest has a darker shadow line that would have been caused by the cresting rail used to give a united look to the chest and side cupboards.

This is an interesting Campaign Chest both for what it tells us about its original design and for what it hasn't revealed yet. Circa 1870.