Posted 6 years ago
Thoughtbui…
(34 items)
Antique gillows 16 drawer dresser. I've been told this may be a Wellington chest or campaign furniture. That would mean that this chest was meant for travel and to be used as luggage.
I was wondering if anyone knew of its approximate age? The locks read gillows of Lancaster and as I understand it that was thier original name which changed over the years. I was also hoping the locks themselves might give some indication of its age.
I was also wondering the type of wood this piece is made from. My guess would be oak with tiger oak drawer faces. I believe the interior of the drawers are cedar (they smell like it)
One final question. What would be the purpose of 16 relatively small drawers. Was this for documents, lingerie or what? The locks indicate a certain desire for privacy
All the tips you got were great if you were looking for a wild goose chase. Some dealers nowadays have no clue. This would have been in line for what is called a specimen cabinet or collectors cabinet. Especially good for collectors, research documents, art or rare Ruebens prints, or butterflies, coins etc where you might want it locked. Gillows would have been a place making many of them, a very respected name. I hardly think this would have been on any campaign furniture, or for that matter anyone with a fixation on Lily St. Cyrs Lingerie !~
I will have to agree that this is not luggage. It isn't reinforced the way anything trunk/luggage-like would be. It would be in pieces if shipped like a trunk.
Whoaahh! Your chest would be perfect for a jewellery collector ;-)
I noticed the lack of brass corner reinforcements as well. Speaking of coning apart, the one thing that still puzzles me is the center beam between the two sets of drawers.. If you look closely it's actually two pieces divided down the middle. Why would that have done this?
I've been told this dates anywhere from mid 1800s to around ww1. Does anyone else have a guess as to age?