Mahogany Double Wellington Chest

A very good quality late 19th century mahogany double Wellington chest with two banks of six drawers with replacement brass knobs. Flanked by hinged locking pilaster to each side, raised on original plinth base.

The first Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, commissioned the first chest of this type, i.e. a tall bank of drawers secured by hinged locking pilasters to take with him and carry around various battlefields and that is where the name wellington chest comes from. It is now used to refer to almost any tall, narrow antique chest of drawers. By default this particular design of chest is therefore referred to as a double wellington chest.

From around 1820 onwards they were manufactured in a huge variety of shapes and sizes, plus they varied a great deal in terms of both their quality and the wood which they are constructed from.

This wellington chest is of a form rarely found in terms of its double bank of drawers and they make it incredibly functional. It is exceptional quality with solid mahogany drawer linings which still operate as smoothly as the day they were made.

It is a most useful size, offering an incredible amount of practical storage and although the brass knobs are later replaced their style works particularly well indeed with the piece overall.

Circa 1880.

Height 50in.
Width 40in.
Depth 19in.

Price

This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance

Stock number