Charming and Small Queen Anne Walnut Chest of Drawers c. 1710

A very pretty and small Queen Anne walnut chest of four graduated drawers each with inlaid borders outlined with holy and ebony stringing and with nailed up walnut and deal linings. The twin boarded oversailing top with ogee carved frieze.

The handles appear to be original. Old split rings on circular back plates, all solid brass and retaining large brass embossed escutcheons and three early 18th century steel locks, the fourth a very high quality 19th century solid brass replacement.

A country piece, made by a skilled provincial cabinet maker in around 1710, the chest is of a particularly small ‘bedside chest’ size and may have been made for use by a child.

The colour is lovely and the chest has a good rich patina.

With solid walnut slab sides and original deal backboards. The drawer fronts dressed with walnut veneers. The drawer linings are nailed up with hand forged iron nails, the boards are more thickly cut than one would expect for a chest of this period and these linings may be early replacements. The drawers open and close smoothly and are well made and robust.

The chest is extremely heavy for its size and sits down very well.

There are knocks, marks, old replacements, repairs and restorations as shown in my photographs and which are reflected in my price and part of the chest’s long history.

With character and charm, and with a rich colour to the walnut, a lovely usable example.