George III Caddy Top Oak and Elm Chest of Drawers c. 1790

A very original small chest of drawers made by hand in around 1790. The top and drawer fronts in solid oak with medullary rays, the side panels in a rich and warm figured elm and the four long graduated drawers all with original pine linings with beautifully crafted dovetailed joints.

Original solid brass hand cast bail handles and all the drawers retain their original steel locks.

It was a tremendous amount of work to make a caddy top, dovetailed internally and fitted perfectly. This is something difficult to do with modern CNC machinery let alone with a measure and hand held tools.

Two chips to the dustboards where someone once closed the drawer with the lock snib up. Minor dings and dents.

A good colour and all of the drawers open and close smoothly. A section at the bottom right had corner of the side panel, nearest the wall, has been damaged and replaced in elm at some point a long time ago.

A good and solid chest, usable and in very original condition.

You can buy a modern MDF chest on the high street for around this same price and will own exactly the same chest as thousands of other people. It will fall apart in less than a decade and in its manufacture it will have travelled thousands of miles and cost the earth a lot of resources.

This chest was made bespoke and by hand. It is unique and has provided storage and good service to numerous generations over the last 230 years - and will continue to do that for hundreds of years to come.