An Exceptionally Well Figured Mid 19th Century Walnut Wellington Chest, Of Five Drawers And One Secretaire Drawer Retaining Original Turned Wooden Knobs, Flanked By Pilasters With Elegant Carved Corbels, 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.

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 particular piece is constructed from exceptionally well figured walnut veneers and it is really rather beautiful to look at. It also features a secretaire drawer which is a classy, additional touch. The purpose of this originally would have been for somebody to stand at and carry out brief correspondence as and when required, possibly in a guest room or similar.

As always one of the big advantages with a chest of this form is that it offers a different and more unusual perspective to the room in terms of its height and proportion. Also of course the drawers are incredibly functional when used for items that you don’t wish to be buried at the bottom of the much larger drawers which can be found in conventional antiques chests of drawers.

As with all the items which we offer for sale, this Victorian Wellington Chest has been attended to in the traditional manner at our workshops before being offered for sale, by our highly trained and skilled antique furniture restorers including a light clean and natural wax polish to ensure that it is in retail condition and ready to be placed immediately into the home or workplace.

Circa 1860.

Height 50in.
Width 22in.
Depth 16in.