English Campaign Style Victorian War Chest
Chest of drawers Victorian military campaign chest manufactured by Graves & Sons, Devonport, England, UK. Brass bindings & corner brackets.
Lovely mellow colour & grain configuration. Here is an example of a good quality antique English Victorian colonial mahogany and brass military campaign two-part chest of drawers, stamped Graves and Sons of Devonport (Plymouth) 1927, in good condition. Constructed of solid mahogany with a single piece top, it features the original top quality inset brass drop handles, with brass corner brackets and further brass strap-work.
The chest boasts brass side carrying handles. The drawers incorporate brass key escutcheons to the drawer fronts. The brass corner brackets and brass straps were used to protect the chest whilst in transit during campaigns. The drawers are constructed of solid mahogany with hand-dovetailed drawer linings and piece features its original pine back. The drawers are in good working order, they are clean inside and close flush to the frame.
The chest stands on different feet from the original screw-on (detachable) turned feet. The chest splits into two sections for easy transportation. The lever locks are stamped with Graves and Sons of Devonport.
Graves and Sons were listed at Fore Street, Plymouth in 1890 as general furnishers. Presumably they were allied to Sterling Graves, naval & military outfitters, who traded next door. For further information relating to the history of Devonport. Chests that were constructed for the colonies, such as this one, were usually constructed of solid teak or mahogany. This campaign chest would have been commissioned for a member of the British Army.
Mahogany & teak were used extensively for military chests because they had the advantage of only minimally expanding and contracting when exposed to extremes in temperature and humidity. They were resistant to woodworm, termites, and the occasional splash of seawater.
All of the brass hardware is original, tarnished, but intact. There are ample scuffs on the bottom left side of the drawer and the feet as well as on the bottom right side and some on the top half.
There are nominal old use marks to the leading edges, top and corners but nothing significant considering the age of the item. There are no ink stains, cup marks or burns to the top of the chest. All the hand dovetailed drawers close flush to the frame.