Drop-face Drawer Cabinet, skeleton key swing doors, what is it for?

[glasschick]

Hi, I have tried for awhile to find out what this large cabinet's intended purpose was. It has 16 drop-face drawers, is 5' high, 4' wide with 2 pull out shelves. It has 2 swing short side doors with skeleton keyholes and the drawers are indented to fit inside the doors on each side, the drawers are all dove tailed, hinges and slotted screws are brass. It has a thick black lacquer on faces.
Is is for stationary, files or what?
Thanks for any help you can give me.
glass chick

[mart]

OK !!  When you open the side doors, there is a writing surface but but not all the drawers require the sides to be open !!  Same on the other side but some of the drawers are wider ??  Is that correct ?? Kind of like a legal cabinet or secretary but odd design !! Is this your cabinet  where did you get it, and what is your location ??  Looks like a UK type !!

[Rauville]

I think I see how this functions: The side doors lock all drawers + the pull-out shelves. The drawers have false fronts with trim surrounding the pull knobs.
I would agree that "legal file" would be my first thought...but really have no idea.
Does the portion above the drawer unit have anything behind the decorative front?

[gg27]

 Called a Wellington Chest, named after the 1st Duke of Wellington. It usually had 6 to 12 drawers of equal depth. The right-hand side of the frame, which overlapped the drawers, was hinged and fitted with a lock.  Hard to see from the photos what the age is. 

[bigwull]

You,ve nailed it gg,..you get one of these...
and here,s loads more...http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=wellington+chest&hl=en&tbo=u&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=3pPfUMPTO5OM0wW8xICACg&sqi=2&ved=0CFYQsAQ&biw=1024&bih=651

[glasschick]

Thanks so much, that was fast    Ok, it opens with the 2 side doors that both have locks.  It has 2 paper holding shelves that pull out halfway down.  The top is ornate but empty inside top.  I have had it 20+ years...got it in trade in OLas vegas for a $1000 stained glass window.  I store my art supplies in it.

What do you think the value might be and how old is it, how can we date it?
You guys rock!

[mart]

Thats the first one I have seen !!  At least I got the country right !!  Knew it wasn`t U.S.!

[bigwull]

age wise...mid to late Victorian..1860 /1902..value very dependant on condition..and finish...Dark furniture over here in the UK..is going through a very bad patch at moment...if this was up for sale 10/15 years ago...you could expect...£2/3000,...now you,ll be lucky to get your initial investment back...and as this has been black laquered...then it is most likely a Mourning..Piece...A fter the death of Prince Albert in 1861...Queen Victoria..went into Mourning..and dressed in Black..for the rest of her long life...and many pieces of furniture that were made after Alberts death...were laquered black...subsequentl y they became known as Mourning furniture...At present on Ebay Uk..there are a good few examples...mostly made of Oak..or Mahogany...prices range from £695....up to £1,695...but they have no bids....my advice would be...if you are not dependant on what you might get for it....keep it...its serving a purpose and earning its keep

[glasschick]

Thanks Mart!
Thanks so much bigwull, you are very savvy and I sure appreciate it!  I love the piece and a friend likes it more than the rest of my antiques and asked if I would sell it.  Economy being what it is, as a glass blower now in Oregon the last dozen years I was thinking of parting with it. You have changed my mind, it is a functionally grand piece.  Sure wish I could date it better or see one closer to it in pictures.

It certainly is earning it's keep, I know I will thank you more down the road!
This is great...after the holidays I am going to have to post a few more items just to see where they lived before me!

Mourning period, that is sad but cool.

[glasschick]

bigwull, Would you know where to look for the maker's mark?  All the drawers are numbered in pencil on back in fancy written numbers but nothing on bottoms of drawers.  What companies there might have made this?
gg, thank you for your reply also!

[bigwull]

Looking for a makers mark...can be fun...and frustrating..simply because...if this was a bespoke item..then..it will most likely have the makers mark....but.it could be anything and anywhere..on the piece...what you have to do is go over this piece with a fine tooth comb...and note anything you see..that looks..out of place..different... whatever...also check the locks for makers names...the hinges...Bespoke furniture makers of this era were of what we call the Old Brigade...they were meticulous...even if this was made in a factory environment..it could still carry a mark...as it would have been hand finished...you could send pics and info to these people..they may be able to help...

http://www.achome.co.uk/antiques/furniture_research.htm

[mart]

That was gg27 and Bigwull that helped on this one !!  You might keep in mind that Bigwull is in the UK and prices there are drastically different than in the US. !!  Could bring considerably more here !!  Especially if you can find a makers name on it !! I would say $2000. + !!  You won`t find many of them here in the states !!

[glasschick]

Thank you both so very much~  Ok, tomorrow I will see what I can find.  It is a very heavy piece so won't be able to get to back but I will carefully examine each drawer and interior with flashlight.  Also hardware...locks look weird, keyhole is lower than catch hole on the back of door (it has small hooked brass piece on frame that fits into hole)

Maybe I can get close ups of more details tomorrow in good light (rare on Oregon coast!).
You've made my year!

[KC]

Beautiful chest!  Can you take some close up pieces of construction on drawers, hardware on doors, etc. 

[glasschick]

Ok, here are some close up shots of hardware...lock outside, inside and latch on frame.