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ID #SA1029289
FOR SALE
£1,495
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Antique Apprentice Mule Chest, English, Oak, Miniature Coffer, Desktop, Georgian
For sale by London Fine Antiques
for sale €1,749     $1,899
£1,495
London Fine Antiques

London Fine Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Oct 2010
Browse dealers 943 items
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    Fine antiques curated in england and sold worldwide
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Antique Apprentice Mule Chest, English, Oak, Miniature Coffer, Desktop, Georgian

18th century
Description

This is an antique apprentice mule chest. An English, oak miniature desktop coffer, dating to the late Georgian period, circa 1800.

Wonderful desk storage box, a great example of apprentice furniture

Displays a desirable aged patina and in good original order

Select oak stocks host a bounty of fine grain interest and medullary rays

Deep caramel hues throughout present a wonderful colour

Arranged as an upper compartment over a wide lower drawer

Fascia and drawer offering inset, brass lined locks — in working order, keys present

Brass drop handles adorn the drawer front and to the sides for carriage

Standing upon a quartet of shaped bracket feet

This is a fascinating antique apprentice mule chest, graced with delightful figuring and of wonderful proportion for organising a desktop. A treat of apprentice craftsmanship. Solid joints and construction, delivered ready for the home or office.

Dimensions:

Max Width: 51.5cm (20.25'')

Max Depth: 26.5cm (10.5'')

Max Height: 24cm (9.5'')

Upper Compartment Width: 44.5cm (17.5'')

Upper Compartment Depth: 21.5cm (8.5'')

Upper Compartment Height: 7cm (2.75'')

Drawer Width: 43cm (17'')

Drawer Depth: 20.5cm (8'')

Drawer Height: 7.5cm (3'')

We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee with all of our antiques.

We ship worldwide with professional packing and attractive rates – please send us your post / zip code and country for a quote.

Free delivery to most of the U.K. – Please send us your post code for confirmation.

Deliveries taking on average ten working days to arrive at your door from receipt of payment.

Please contact us if you require any further information - we are here to help.

Declaration

London Fine Antiques has dated this Georgian Oak Miniature Mule Chest to the Georgian era.

Physical Dimensions
Height
24cm (9.45")
Width
26.5cm (10.43")
Depth
51.5cm (20.28")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1029289
Dealers Internal Reference
18.9659
Dealers Notes

What our clients have to say: https://www.londonfine.co.uk/pages/reviews

Description
This is an antique apprentice mule chest. An English, oak miniature desktop coffer, dating to the late Georgian period, circa 1800.

Wonderful desk storage box, a great example of apprentice furniture

Displays a desirable aged patina and in good original order

fig 1. A Georgian miniature oak mule chest featuring a hinged top lid, lower drawer, brass swan-neck handles, and bracket feet.
fig 1. Antique Apprentice Mule Chest, English, Oak, Miniature Coffer, Desktop, Georgian

Select oak stocks host a bounty of fine grain interest and medullary rays

Deep caramel hues throughout present a wonderful colour

Arranged as an upper compartment over a wide lower drawer

Fascia and drawer offering inset, brass lined locks — in working order, keys present

fig 2. A Georgian miniature oak mule chest featuring a hinged top lid, lower drawer, brass swan-neck handles, and bracket feet.
fig 2. Antique Apprentice Mule Chest, English, Oak, Miniature Coffer, Desktop, Georgian

Brass drop handles adorn the drawer front and to the sides for carriage

Standing upon a quartet of shaped bracket feet

“
This is a fascinating antique apprentice mule chest, graced with delightful figuring and of wonderful proportion for organising a desktop.
London Fine Antiques

A treat of apprentice craftsmanship. Solid joints and construction, delivered ready for the home or office.

fig 3. A Georgian miniature oak mule chest featuring a hinged top lid, lower drawer, brass swan-neck handles, and bracket feet.
fig 3. Antique Apprentice Mule Chest, English, Oak, Miniature Coffer, Desktop, Georgian

Dimensions:

Max Width: 51.5cm (20.25'')

Max Depth: 26.5cm (10.5'')

Max Height: 24cm (9.5'')

Upper Compartment Width: 44.5cm (17.5'')

Upper Compartment Depth: 21.5cm (8.5'')

Upper Compartment Height: 7cm (2.75'')

fig 4. A Georgian miniature oak mule chest featuring a hinged top lid, lower drawer, brass swan-neck handles, and bracket feet.
fig 4. Antique Apprentice Mule Chest, English, Oak, Miniature Coffer, Desktop, Georgian

Drawer Width: 43cm (17'')

Drawer Depth: 20.5cm (8'')

Drawer Height: 7.5cm (3'')

We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee with all of our antiques.

We ship worldwide with professional packing and attractive rates – please send us your post / zip code and country for a quote.

fig 5. A Georgian miniature oak mule chest featuring a hinged top lid, lower drawer, brass swan-neck handles, and bracket feet.
fig 5. Antique Apprentice Mule Chest, English, Oak, Miniature Coffer, Desktop, Georgian

Free delivery to most of the U.K. – Please send us your post code for confirmation.

Deliveries taking on average ten working days to arrive at your door from receipt of payment.

Please contact us if you require any further information - we are here to help.

Date of Manufacture

London Fine Antiques has dated this Georgian Oak Miniature Mule Chest to the Georgian era.

Height
24cm (9.45")
Width
26.5cm (10.43")
Depth
51.5cm (20.28")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1029289
Dealers Internal Ref
18.9659
London Fine Antiques
London Fine Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Oct 2010

Fine antiques curated in england and sold worldwide

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the London Fine Antiques Profile Page

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A Georgian miniature oak mule chest featuring a hinged top lid, lower drawer, brass swan-neck handles, and bracket feet.
1 / 11
Archive I A Georgian miniature oak mule chest featuring a hinged top lid, lower drawer, brass swan-neck handles, and bracket feet.

Antique Apprentice Mule Chest, English, Oak, Miniature Coffer, Desktop, Georgian

Archive II A Georgian miniature oak mule chest featuring a hinged top lid, lower drawer, brass swan-neck handles, and bracket feet. View II
Archive III A Georgian miniature oak mule chest featuring a hinged top lid, lower drawer, brass swan-neck handles, and bracket feet. View III
Archive IV A Georgian miniature oak mule chest featuring a hinged top lid, lower drawer, brass swan-neck handles, and bracket feet. View IV
Archive V A Georgian miniature oak mule chest featuring a hinged top lid, lower drawer, brass swan-neck handles, and bracket feet. View V
Archive VI A Georgian miniature oak mule chest featuring a hinged top lid, lower drawer, brass swan-neck handles, and bracket feet. View VI
Archive VII A Georgian miniature oak mule chest featuring a hinged top lid, lower drawer, brass swan-neck handles, and bracket feet. View VII
Archive VIII A Georgian miniature oak mule chest featuring a hinged top lid, lower drawer, brass swan-neck handles, and bracket feet. View VIII
Archive IX A Georgian miniature oak mule chest featuring a hinged top lid, lower drawer, brass swan-neck handles, and bracket feet. View IX
Archive X A Georgian miniature oak mule chest featuring a hinged top lid, lower drawer, brass swan-neck handles, and bracket feet. View X
Archive XI A Georgian miniature oak mule chest featuring a hinged top lid, lower drawer, brass swan-neck handles, and bracket feet. View XI
Enlarged Archival View
London Fine Antiques

London Fine Antiques
Telephone 0207 1833511
Location
The Antique Village
Hele
Exeter
Devon
EX5 4PW
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/londonfineantiques
Verified Since Oct 2010
Items For Sale 943
Items Sold 5,656
London Fine Antiques
London Fine Antiques
Verified Since Oct 2010
View Dealer Info
Location: The Antique Village, Hele, Exeter, Devon , EX5 4PW, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/londonfineantiques
Verified
Oct 2010
For Sale
943
Sold
5,656
A Georgian miniature oak mule chest featuring a hinged top lid, lower drawer, brass swan-neck handles, and bracket feet.
Antique Apprentice Mule Chest, English, Oak, Miniature Coffer, Desktop, Georgian
Ref: SA1029289
A Georgian miniature oak mule chest featuring a hinged top lid, lower drawer, brass swan-neck handles, and bracket feet.
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Archival Detail

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Every single antique dealer on our platform is individually approved by our internal team. We verify their professional trade history, ethical standards, and photographic quality to ensure a secure, high-standard buying environment. Upon joining, every dealer agrees to a strict 9-point code of conduct. While issues can occasionally arise, our dealers typically resolve them swiftly and directly with the buyer. In fact, since our founding in 2002, Sellingantiques has only had to step in to help resolve an issue on roughly five occasions—a true testament to the quality of our dealers and their dedication to your happiness.

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectBoxes & Coffers
  • Period18th century
  • StyleGeorgian
  • MaterialOak, Brass, Iron
  • ColourWarm Brown
  • MotifsSwan-neck handles, Bracket feet, Hinged lid, Escutcheon keyhole
  • SizeH 24 cm (9 in) x W 26.5 cm (10 in) x D 51.5 cm (20 in)

This apprentice mule chest is a Georgian miniature desktop coffer made from English oak. The timber has deep caramel hues with a fine grain, medullary rays, and a hinged top lid above a wide lower drawer. Brass drop handles are fitted to the drawer front and sides, complemented by brass-lined keyhole escutcheons and working keys. The structure stands upon a quartet of shaped bracket feet. Measuring 24 cm high, 51.5 cm wide, and 26.5 cm deep, this desktop coffer is well suited for an office desk or study table to organise small items. Its compact proportion and traditional English country house design integrate easily into a home workspace.

FAQs

A mule chest is a traditional storage form combining a top compartment with a hinged lid and one or more drawers at the base. Apprentice pieces were scaled-down versions created by cabinetmaking trainees to demonstrate technical proficiency in joinery and construction techniques.

Georgian chests were typically constructed using native hardwoods such as solid oak, walnut, or mahogany. Secondary timbers like pine were used for drawer linings, while cast brass handles, iron lock mechanisms, and hand-cut dovetail joints provided functional durability.

Authentic pieces feature period-correct joinery, including irregular hand-cut dovetails, hand-planed back panels, and original iron lock plates. Natural age-related shrinkage in the wood and authentic patination around brass hardware also indicate period origin.

A miniature mule chest functions well as a tabletop accent on an office desk, console table, or sideboard. It offers practical storage for small items like keys, stationery, or trinkets while adding warm timber tones to contemporary schemes.

Position the piece away from direct heat sources and sunlight to prevent timber shrinkage or splitting. Dust regularly with a dry microfibre cloth and apply a clear beeswax polish once or twice a year to maintain the wood surface.
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