Fine Early 18th Century Walnut Bachelors Chest

This is an extremely rare George I walnut Bachelors Chest of good colour and patina with original handles and hinges. This is a wonderful example with good clean oak linings, original veneers and feather banding. Quite remarkably the handles retain most of there original gilding, it is interesting to note that although the chest has been made in the George I manner the handles are more associated with the Queen Anne period, it is possible that this is a transitional piece. There is a similar chest from the same period as this one at Beningbrough Hall a National Trust property near York which also has lip moulded drawers that are typical of the period, this one too has Queen Anne handles. It has been well documented over the last century in various books that these chests are rare and highly sort after by collectors of Walnut and connoisseurs alike. One of the most famous walnut collectors of recent times John Parry actually had five walnut Bachelors Chests at the time of his last sale at Christies in March 2010, the most expensive of these made an incredible £91,250. In the 54 years that my farther has spent in the business he has bought and sold examples from different periods and also seen many fakes and badly restored ones. This example is particularly rare being in such good original condition and retaining the original handles and hinges.