Contact us about Wellington Chest Apprentice Piece

A small 19th century mahogany wellington chest apprentice piece. This is a charming apprentice wellington chest dating to the late 19th/early 20th century. The chest has four drawers set over a deep base plinth. To the right hand side is a wooden keeper which folds closed over the drawers, sadly the key has been lost somewhere in time. These miniature pieces are often referred to as “Apprentice Pieces” with the justification that before an apprentice cabinet maker would be let loose on making a major piece he would have to prove capable of making fine items in miniature without the risk of wasting expensive materials, time and wages. Another explanation is that these were made by craftsmen as samples of wares to show to prospective clients and take orders for the full sized equivalents without the outlay in advance.