Featured old wooden chest

I am curious about an old wooden chest that was found in a cottage in Shropshire in the 1950s.


The chest is 130 cm wide.

Does the distinctive form of the design give an indication of its age?

 

very nice !!!

 

@James Conrad

 

No, but it does seem to be built with traditional joiner technique. It also seems to have extensive insect damage to the lid and bottom rail.

 

Any chance of more pics? Like of the back & sides, maybe the bottom?? Seems to have way too many "wormholes" and almost looks like stained pine (oak? can't really tell in the picture) - if so then maybe newer and distressed to look old. Please, don't kill the messenger - LOL!

 

I wonder if it isn't an abused or very old oak mule chest from Wales.

 

Very nice chest, Jefferies, and welcome.
It could be a locally made piece. Is there an initial on the left as well? It could have to do with a marriage, like a dowry chest.

No drawer(s), so no mule chest.
The shallow carving doesn't strike me as Welsh, but then I haven't seen every Welsh piece of furniture ever made.

 

Yep agrees, gotta have drawers to be called a "mule" chest, a hybrid between a box/coffer and a chest of drawers.
I am not sure anyone knows exactly the origin/history of this word but it is descriptive of that furniture form.

 

I agree, and the shallow carving also looks not very old to me. Pic of top and inside and bottom would tell more about age. Basing an age guess on a single partial exterior picture is never going to be very accurate.