Can you adjust the drawer dividers?

Most original Wellington chests of drawers lack internal dividers. The workshops built the drawers as simple empty boxes to hold loose papers. If you find partitions, they were likely added by a later owner. A cabinet maker can easily slide custom inserts in without damaging the historic fabric.

I inherited one of these from my grandfather and the side flap is locked shut but we can't find the key anywhere in the house. How do I get it open?

A good locksmith can pick a standard Victorian brass lock in minutes. Once open, they can cut a new key to fit the mechanism.

Why do some have drop handles?

Drop handles usually appear on earlier chests from the Regency period. Cabinet makers matched the brass fittings to other formal furniture in the room, tying the interior scheme together. By the mid-Victorian era, turned wooden knobs became the standard choice. They were cheaper to produce and suited the chunkier proportions of later designs.

The drawers on my chest are sticking really badly when I try to pull them out, especially the wider ones near the bottom. Is there a way to fix this without sanding the wood?

Sticking drawers often result from seasonal humidity swelling the carcase. Move the piece away from damp exterior walls and give it time to acclimatise to your room. Rubbing a dry candle along the wooden runners works wonders. The wax lubricates the friction points without damaging the timber or leaving a sticky residue behind. You'll feel the glide improve immediately.

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Wellington Chest of Drawers from the 19th Century

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A tall, narrow stack of drawers secured by a single hinged locking stile down one side, the Wellington chest of drawers was designed to store papers in a minimal floor space.