This handsome George III-period mahogany chest is actually an ingeniously designed gun collector's cabinet. A drop-front surface concealed as the top four drawers opens to reveal felt-lined weapon racks. Near the left hinge of the drop-front is a secret button that, when pressed, opens a sliding vertical rack for storing larger firearms at the back of the chest. Below the drop-front is a drawer devoted to care and cleaning supplies, while the remaining three drawers are equipped for storage, with removable sections that allow for concealed storage. Inconspicuous and beautiful, this chest is a superior specimen of Georgian cabinetmaking.
Circa 1780