A very good quality mid-19th century William IV period
mahogany wellington chest having well figured top
with concealed drawer to frieze and secrétaire drawer
over five further drawers retaining original turned
wooden knobs flanked by superbly carved pilasters

(It is commonly believed that 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.
From circa 1820 onwards they are found in a huge variety
of shapes and sizes and they also vary a great deal in terms of
both quality and the wood which they are constructed from.
This piece is constructed from rich, well figured mahogany
and has a real importance to the design. It is incredibly robust,
yet at the same time impossibly elegant and has clearly been well
loved, plus well used throughout the years of its life. A huge advantage
of this type of chest is that it offers a slightly different and more
unusual perspective to a room in terms of height and proportion
and also of course the drawers are incredibly functional when used
for items that you don’t want to be buried at the bottom of much
larger drawers as can often be the case).