What is a Wellington cabinet?

A Wellington cabinet is a tall, narrow nineteenth-century chest of drawers featuring a locking vertical side bar. This hinged timber piece secures all drawers at once when locked with a key. The design originated to save space and secure private papers or valuable items in domestic and office settings. They remain popular for their compact footprint and deep vertical storage capacity.

How do you open a Wellington chest?

To open the chest, insert the key into the lock on the right-hand vertical locking flap and turn it. The side stile swings outward on its hinges, clearing the drawer edges. Once the locking bar is swung clear, individual drawers pull outward normally. To lock the unit, close all drawers fully and swing the stile back before turning the key.

Where were Wellington chests used?

These cabinets served primarily in Victorian bedrooms, studies, and offices as secure storage for personal correspondence, ledgers, and small valuables. Their narrow profile allowed them to fit into tight alcoves and beside beds. Specialised versions also served as collector cabinets for housing butterflies, moths, and coins. Today they function similarly as bedside tables, tall lamp stands, or compact organizers.

What woods were used for Wellington chests?

Cabinetmakers built these pieces using dense hardwoods such as mahogany, walnut, rosewood, oak, and pitch pine. Fine examples often feature decorative veneers like flame mahogany or burr walnut on the drawer fronts. Secondary woods like pine or oak were used for internal drawer linings and carcases. Brass hardware and occasional amboyna or marquetry detailing completed the decorative scheme.

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Victorian Wellington Cabinet

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A Victorian Wellington cabinet provides a secure, narrow stack of drawers locked behind a hinged, locking side stile.

19th century

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Victorian Wellington Chest

From Country Homes Antiques Stirling

£785

3+ MONTHS AGO

chest of drawers

19th century

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Walnut Collectors Chest of Drawers

From Abersoch Antiques

£375

3+ MONTHS AGO

chest of drawers

19th century

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19th Century Wellington Chest

From Treasury Antiques

£1,350

3+ MONTHS AGO

chest of drawers

Antique C.1900 Large Pitch Pine Wellington Chest of 7 Drawers – Fine Quality

1900 - 1920

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Antique C.1900 Large Pitch Pine Wellington Chest of 7 Drawers – Fine Quality

From Prior and Willis

£1,396

3+ MONTHS AGO

chest of drawers

19th century

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A Late Victorian Tall Walnut Narrow Chest of Drawers.

From Long Melford Antiques

£895

3+ MONTHS AGO

chest of drawers

A Pair of Late Victorian Period Mahogany Bedside Chests

19th century

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A Pair of Late Victorian Period Mahogany Bedside Chests

From Christian Davies Antiques Ltd

£650

3+ MONTHS AGO

cupboards

19th century

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Mid 19th Century Mahogany Wellington Chest.

From Rupert Hitchcox Antiques

£560

3+ MONTHS AGO

chest of drawers

Pair of Victorian Rosewood Marquetry Inlaid Bedside Cabinets

19th century

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Pair of Victorian Rosewood Marquetry Inlaid Bedside Cabinets

From Ruby Antiques

£1,500

3+ MONTHS AGO

cabinets

Late Victorian Mahogany Inlaid Wellington Chest

19th century

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Late Victorian Mahogany Inlaid Wellington Chest

From Ruby Antiques

£650

3+ MONTHS AGO

chest of drawers

Late Victorian Mahogany Slim Size Cabinet

19th century

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Late Victorian Mahogany Slim Size Cabinet

From James R Millington Antiques

£450

3+ MONTHS AGO

cabinets

Form variations range from standard bedside chests and nightstands to miniature chests, tall office storage, and specialist butterfly specimen cabinets.

Good Victorian Inlaid Walnut Wellington Style Chest by Holland & Sons

19th century

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Good Victorian Inlaid Walnut Wellington Style Chest by Holland & Sons

From Rupert Hitchcox Antiques

£795

3+ MONTHS AGO

cupboards

Tall Victorian Mahogany Wellington Chest of Drawers

19th century

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Tall Victorian Mahogany Wellington Chest of Drawers

From James R Millington Antiques

£1,175

3+ MONTHS AGO

chest of drawers

19th century

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Pair Victorian Bedside Chests

From Antiques Decorative

£1,220

3+ MONTHS AGO

cupboards

19th century

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Victorian Oak Wellington Chest

From Douglas George Antiques

£800

3+ MONTHS AGO

chest of drawers

Early Victorian Burr Walnut Wellington Chest

19th century

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Early Victorian Burr Walnut Wellington Chest

From Debenham Antiques Ltd

£2,650

3+ MONTHS AGO

chest of drawers

19th century

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Mid 19th Century Mahogany Childs Wellington Chest

From S and S Timms Antiques Ltd

£1,395

3+ MONTHS AGO

chest of drawers

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Victorian Wellington Cabinet

Victorian Wellington Chest

Walnut Collectors Chest of Drawers

19th Century Wellington Chest

Antique C.1900 Large Pitch Pine Wellington Chest of 7 Drawers – Fine Quality

A Late Victorian Tall Walnut Narrow Chest of Drawers.

A Pair of Late Victorian Period Mahogany Bedside Chests

Mid 19th Century Mahogany Wellington Chest.

Pair of Victorian Rosewood Marquetry Inlaid Bedside Cabinets

Late Victorian Mahogany Inlaid Wellington Chest

Late Victorian Mahogany Slim Size Cabinet

Good Victorian Inlaid Walnut Wellington Style Chest by Holland & Sons

Tall Victorian Mahogany Wellington Chest of Drawers

Pair Victorian Bedside Chests

Victorian Oak Wellington Chest

Early Victorian Burr Walnut Wellington Chest

Mid 19th Century Mahogany Childs Wellington Chest

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