Antique Victorian Pine Tack Trunk Chest Box, c1860

2262

Description

A wonderfully honest mid-Victorian pine tack trunk or storage chest, dating to circa 1860, with excellent primitive country-house character and particularly appealing traditional construction.

Made throughout in solid pine, the chest has a substantial rectangular form with a hinged lift-up lid, moulded edge and broad plinth base. The front is beautifully simple, allowing the natural knots and closely spaced grain of the old pine to provide the decoration, while an oval brass escutcheon remains centrally positioned beneath the lid.

Of particular interest is the construction. The corners display large, exposed hand-cut dovetails, a feature that gives the chest considerable visual character as well as providing evidence of traditional 19th-century cabinetmaking. The dovetails are pleasingly irregular rather than machine-perfect, while the wide boards, historic tool marks and general construction all sit comfortably with the proposed c.1860 date.

The term tack trunk is appropriate for a chest of these proportions and robust construction. Such boxes were practical pieces rather than drawing-room furniture, used around country houses, estates, stables and working households for storing tack, equipment, textiles and other possessions. Without firm provenance, however, I would describe it as a tack trunk or storage chest rather than claim an exclusively equestrian use.

The pine has mellowed to a warm honey colour with knots, historic marks, scratches, old stains and evidence of many decades of use. Importantly, these have not been polished away; the chest retains the slightly rugged surface that makes genuine Victorian vernacular furniture increasingly desirable.

At only 381 mm high, it also translates extremely well into a contemporary interior. It could readily serve as a blanket box, boot-room chest, fireside storage box, children’s toy chest or low occasional/coffee table, while retaining considerably more character than a modern equivalent.

A decorative, practical and very usable piece of Victorian country furniture with particularly attractive exposed dovetailed construction.

Circa 1860.

Dimensions

Height: 381 mm / 38.1 cm / 15 in
Width: 656 mm / 65.6 cm / 25.8 in
Depth: 412 mm / 41.2 cm / 16.2 in

Stock Number: 2262