A 2026 Guide by Sellingantiques
A Highly Figured Wellington Chest by Gillows of Lancaster, 1800
Priced at £5,500 from Butchoff Antiques Ltd.
Named after the first Duke of Wellington. They appeared in the 1820s just as his political career gathered pace.
Designed for tight spaces where a broad chest simply wouldn't fit.
Early examples held sheet music or architectural drawings. Later Victorian workshops shifted focus towards general household storage, adapting the form for everyday domestic use.
Look at the changing proportions over the century. Georgian ones tend to be plain and severe, while later models grew steadily heavier with carved details.
Gillows of Lancaster produced several documented examples. Their workshop records show designs for tall narrow chests matching this exact form during the 1830s.
Holland and Sons supplied well-made versions to various government offices.
Most don't carry a maker's mark. The regional trade built thousands of them using standard published pattern books.
The 2026 retail price guide for Wellington Chest Of Drawers is drawn from a proprietary archive of over 1.1 million retail prices indexed by Sellingantiques since 2003. This guide relies exclusively on their own internal data; no external sources or auction records are used.
Analysing nearly 25 years of UK antique market history alongside current retail values, the data indicates that typical UK retail prices for Wellington Chest Of Drawers range between £900 and £3,400. Entry-level prices generally fall under £900 and premium examples upwards of £3,400.
The hinged locking stile is the defining feature. One turn of a key secures the whole bank.
Seven drawers is a common standard. This arrangement provided one for each day of the week, though you'll see many variations.
You usually find small turned wooden knobs pulling the drawers.
Hand-cut dovetails hold the drawer boxes together. The pins narrow noticeably on early nineteenth-century work.
Thick cuts of expensive veneer characterise the early production runs.
Turn the piece around to check the back. Good quality construction relies on panelled backboards rather than rough sawn planks nailed flat against the frame.
"Some feature a secret drawer hidden within the top moulding. You reach it by pressing a concealed spring catch underneath."
"A few variations include a pull-out writing surface. This slide masquerades as a standard drawer front until opened."
"Medal collectors still seek out a Wellington chest of drawers today."
Based on almost 25 years of Sellingantiques UK antique market data, Wellington Chest Of Drawers appeared 1652 times (out of 1,100,000 antiques) which gives it a rarity score of 72/100.
This score measures scarcity within the Sellingantiques archive only and is not a survey of the entire antiques market, so these statistics may not be indicative of the general availability of Wellington Chest Of Drawers elsewhere.
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.
A good locksmith can pick a standard Victorian brass lock in minutes.
Once open, they can cut a new key to fit the mechanism.
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.
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.
Please note: This Wellington Chest Of Drawers guide and its associated pricing data are provided for general informational purposes only. It does not constitute formal financial, investment, or appraisal advice and should not be relied upon as the sole basis for any commercial activity, purchasing, or sales decisions. Sellingantiques.co.uk accepts no liability for any actions taken in reliance on this information. Always consult with a qualified professional or independent appraiser.
