What is an Anglo Indian chest?

An Anglo Indian chest is a storage box or drawer unit built from tropical hardwoods like teak or camphor wood, featuring decorative brass binding, corner plates, and sometimes intricate wire inlay. These items were produced during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries under British colonial influence. Many of these chests originated as portable campaign furniture designed for officers on the move, while others served as domestic storage or merchant trunks. Their robust construction combined British structural utility with traditional Indian decorative arts.

How do I care for brass inlaid wood?

Maintaining these pieces requires keeping them away from direct sunlight and extreme humidity fluctuations to prevent the tropical hardwoods from warping and the brass inlay from loosening. Regular dusting with a soft, dry cloth is usually sufficient for cleaning. Avoid applying harsh chemical polishes that might seep beneath the brass wire or stain the surrounding timber. A gentle application of microcrystalline wax can help protect the wood surface without harming the metal components.

How do I date a campaign trunk?

Dating relies on examining the construction methods, timber choices, and the style of the brass hardware. Earlier nineteenth-century examples often utilise solid teak or camphor wood with hand-cut dovetails and heavy cast brass mounts, while later pieces may incorporate machine-tooled elements. Documentation, stamps, or inscriptions left by previous owners can also help narrow down the period. Pieces bearing specific regional attribution styles, such as Hoshiarpur work, generally point towards the late nineteenth or early twentieth centuries.

Were these items used by the military?

A large proportion of brass-bound trunks, writing slopes, and chests of drawers were commissioned for British military officers stationed in India. These items needed to withstand arduous journeys across rugged terrain and sea voyages. Other pieces, such as decorative tables, trays, and cachepots, were intended for permanent colonial residences or export to British homes. Both military and domestic items shared the characteristic combination of durable timber and decorative brasswork.

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Anglo Indian Brass

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These pieces unite British campaign utility with intricate Indian metalwork, offering robust storage and striking brass decoration for the home.

Pair of Unusual & Attractive Brass Painted Lamps

19th century

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Pair of Unusual & Attractive Brass Painted Lamps

From Marlborough Antiques & Interiors

£1,350

FOR SALE

lighting

Nineteenth Century Brass Bound Hardwood Middle Eastern Box

19th century

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Nineteenth Century Brass Bound Hardwood Middle Eastern Box

From Beresford Antiques LTD

£595

FOR SALE

boxes

19th century

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C19th Camphor Campaign Chest

From Antiques Decorative

£980

FOR SALE

chests

19th century

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Anglo Indian Padauk Wood Military Chest

From LTANTIQUES.CO.UK

£1,650

FOR SALE

chest of drawers

19th century

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19thc Camphor Wood Chest

From Piers Pisani Ltd Antiques and Furniture

£950

FOR SALE

chests

Anglo Indian Panelled Back Two Section Campaign Chest

19th century

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Anglo Indian Panelled Back Two Section Campaign Chest

From David Griffith Antiques

£5,650

FOR SALE

chest of drawers

Quality Antique Victorian Brass Jardiniere

19th century

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Quality Antique Victorian Brass Jardiniere

From Unique Antiques by Emma Jade

£325

FOR SALE

metal

19th century

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A Padouk Wood Campaign Chest of Drawers

From Wickersley Antiques

£850

FOR SALE

chest of drawers

1900 - 1920

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North African Narrow Tall Chest of Drawers

From Harrison Antique Furniture

£490

FOR SALE

chest of drawers

Anglo Indian Rosewood Secretaire Campaign Chest.

19th century

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Anglo Indian Rosewood Secretaire Campaign Chest.

From Rupert Hitchcox Antiques

£695

FOR SALE

chest of drawers

Listings feature extensive nineteenth-century teak and padouk furniture alongside decorative brass trays and vessels spanning the Victorian and Edwardian eras.

19th century

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19th Century Indian Copper Bowl

From Rebecca Sarah Antiques

£245

FOR SALE

metal

Antique Carved Anglo-indian Table Copper Top

1900 - 1920

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Antique Carved Anglo-indian Table Copper Top

From Rams Head Antiques

£685

FOR SALE

furniture

19th century

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Late 19th-century Pierced Brass Pendant Light

From Rupert Landen Antiques

£345

FOR SALE

lighting

19th century

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19th Century Indian Rosewood Merchants Trunk

From The Old Cinema

£2,950

FOR SALE

chests

19th century

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Very Large Indian Trunk

From Ropeworks Antiques

£1,280

FOR SALE

chests

19th century

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Pair of Hoshiarpur Brass Inlaid Mirrors

From Ropeworks Antiques

£590

FOR SALE

mirrors

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Anglo Indian Brass

Pair of Unusual & Attractive Brass Painted Lamps

Nineteenth Century Brass Bound Hardwood Middle Eastern Box

C19th Camphor Campaign Chest

Anglo Indian Padauk Wood Military Chest

19thc Camphor Wood Chest

Anglo Indian Panelled Back Two Section Campaign Chest

Quality Antique Victorian Brass Jardiniere

A Padouk Wood Campaign Chest of Drawers

North African Narrow Tall Chest of Drawers

Anglo Indian Rosewood Secretaire Campaign Chest.

19th Century Indian Copper Bowl

Antique Carved Anglo-indian Table Copper Top

Late 19th-century Pierced Brass Pendant Light

19th Century Indian Rosewood Merchants Trunk

Very Large Indian Trunk

Pair of Hoshiarpur Brass Inlaid Mirrors

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