Vintage 1950s War Department Mahogany Chest of Drawers

At almost 70 years old, this large, ex War Department, vintage chest of drawers must have seen some action! Originally commissioned for bases and barracks, it’s rather utilitarian in design, unfussy and no-nonsense, but it retains considerable old-fashioned charm and of course, provides masses of practical storage with five graduated drawers including a top drawer with a lock and key. As you might expect with furniture of this nature, it’s extremely well-made in mahogany with faultless dovetail joints and generous pull handles. And the dark, richly striped patina of the mahogany grain is stunning. It’s stamped WD (War Department) July 1955 on the back, a wonderful piece of heritage and history, and now a practical piece for the modern home.

SKU: W697

Description

This is an original, used chest of drawers that is ‘sold as seen’. Overall, it is in very good, vintage condition for its years. The piece has been cleaned inside and out, and the exterior surfaces have been fully restored, a careful process that involved stripping off the old finish, layers of oil and then a hard-wearing wax polish. There are still light signs of aging here and there as we’re mindful of not removing every last scratch and mark – we take great care not be too invasive with our restorations as we want to preserve a piece’s history and character. All five drawers slide with ease on their runners and are well-made with dovetail joints. They all have clean, tidy interiors with just light signs of use. We have the original key and one of the top drawers can be locked. It’s a superbly crafted piece, very well-made, solid and stable. The back is stamped with WD (War Department). Please do view our photos for a good sense of the super finish, condition and colour. Any questions, please do ask.

Dimensions
H: 84.5cm / W: 107cm / D: 51cm – 53.5cm out to handles