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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Hallingdalen, post: 10538180, member: 93477&quot;][ATTACH=full]529550[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]529551[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]529552[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]529553[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]529554[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]529556[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]529557[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]529558[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]529559[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]529560[/ATTACH] I&#039;m pretty sure this isn&#039;t particularly old, but since I&#039;ve learned a lot from threads on this forum, I thought I&#039;d try to analyse this piece and see if other members agree – and maybe help me win a friendly argument with my uncle.</p><p><br /></p><p>It’s a two-drawer campaign-style chest with recessed brass handles, brass corner protectors. My uncle’s convinced it’s a genuine one-piece campaign chest from before Indian independence – possibly made in India and brought back by a British officer after their service. He points to the brass fittings and reinforced construction as evidence it was built to be moved, not just sit in a living room.</p><p><br /></p><p>I can see where he’s coming from, but I think the construction techniques point to mid-20th century production – more in line with civilian reproductions than military-issue furniture. Here’s why:</p><p><br /></p><ul> <li>The dovetails are machine-cut – perfectly uniform, not hand-made.<br /> <br /> </li> <li>The corner blocks in the feet are too precise and smooth to be hand-shaped – they look like they came off a router.<br /> <br /> </li> <li>There are glued and nailed supports, not pegged joints or detachable elements you’d expect in true field furniture.<br /> <br /> </li> <li>The markings – “2N980 1” underneath and “107” inside a drawer – don’t resemble service numbers or broad arrow military marks. Possibly inventory codes, but civilian ones.</li> </ul><p>I know many campaign pieces were made in India during the colonial period, but unless a workshop there was using full mechanised joinery pre-1947, I think this chest likely dates to the 1950s–1970s, when campaign-style furniture became fashionable again in the UK.</p><p><br /></p><p>Would really appreciate any input – especially if anyone recognises the numbers or construction quirks. And if I turn out to be right, I promise to be gracious about it… mostly.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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