Webberley Antiques has dated this piece to the Georgian era.
When the top was extended to full width it is supported on two sliding oak lopers and clothes could be placed upon it for ‘brushing out’ – in the 18th century clothes were brushed far more often than they were washed.
The drawers with their fine oak linings in clean and very solid condition and well constructed. The base boards running front to back and the linings with fine and strong hand cut dovetails.
The hand cast brass handles with chased decoration to the back plates and split pin fasteners each with a small ring to the centre of the bail. These rings have, over the centuries, made an impression above each handle – a small indent in the oak known as a ‘knock mark’ – which demonstrates the regular use and great age of the chest as oak is not easy to mark and also shows which drawers have been used more often than others. Antique furniture always tells us part of its history and its story in these ways.
Good original finish and original bracket feet and a very well cared for piece of early Georgian furniture.
There are small marks and bruises here and therethere is a small loss to the edge of the leaf of the top and a small patched in oak repair – very old, smoothed by time and well blended.
Made by skilled hands in c. 1740, and looked after all of its life, this lovely little bachelors’ chest is in excellent original condition, very sturdy and heavy and usable – and would sit down perfectly in a cottage or be useable on a staircase, hallway or narrow room.
Dimensions are:
30.5 inches wide, 30.25 inches high and 13 inches deep.
Depth when the top is open is 26 inches.
For metric please multiply by 2.5
Webberley Antiques has dated this piece to the Georgian era.
Specialists in 18th century and earlier furniture for more than 45 years
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Webberley Antiques Profile Page
George II Oak Bachelor’s Chest of Small Proportions c. 1740
