Late 19th Century Military Campaign Chest of Drawers, Secretary, Victorian, 1890

England
Mahogany, brass
Victorian around 1890

Dimensions: H x W x D: 135 x 92 x 52 cm

Description:
Exceptional English ship’s or captain’s secretary with interesting opening mechanism.

Strictly cubistic piece of furniture made of solid mahogany.
Slightly protruding base with brass edge. The brass edge is repeated in the form of a beater strip between the lower two doors as well as framing the door panels and the filling of the secretary flap.

In the centre of the front view is a wide drawer. When this drawer is pulled out, the secretary flap opens automatically. A pull mechanism moves the flap into a cavity above the secretary compartment. From the outside, this cavity in the piece of furniture is designed like a drawer with its brass handles set into the front.
The resulting workstation consists of a leather-covered writing surface that can be set up at an angle. To the left and right of it are lockable compartments and shelves for pens, ink and grit containers.
Behind it, there is a storage area with seven drawers and ten open compartments.

On the outside, because the secretary was designed for use on ships or for the military, it has solid carrying handles.

The piece of furniture is impeccably crafted. All the corner joints are neatly dovetailed. Not only those of the drawers, but also those of the carcass. The so-called semi-concealed dovetail dovetailing, which connects the top plate with the sides, can be seen from the outside. The spacing of the prongs is irregular and freely chosen by the joiner of the time without any standard. Features like this distinguish a genuine antique from replicas of more recent date.

Worth knowing:
“Travelling furniture” was designed to be practical, sturdy and easy to handle when loaded onto a ship or carriage. The Romans already designed and manufactured “mobile” furniture for use on their campaigns of conquest. However, furniture of this kind was later perfected by the British army, who wanted to feel at home even in a tent thousands of kilometres from home during their worldwide conquests in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Equipped with recessed handles and sheaths of brass that protected the delicate corners and edges, this furniture was not only functional but also beautiful. They were perfectly suited to that period when the English Crown was expanding into Africa, Asia and Australia.

Condition:
Refurbished condition. All moving parts work perfectly. Beautiful and authentic patina with visible and preserved traces of age and use.