Historical information

This cabinet would have been made in the early 20th century for as office or home office furniture. It's neat brass lock and key gives the contents some basic security but could be easily tampered with. At some stage there were two additional divisions in the top row of pigeon holes, which would make fifteen compartments of equal size available.

A cabinet such as this could be used to classify or sort items, for example, mail for different people, or categories of business papers such as bills, orders, receipts, pay book, bank book and so on.

Significance

This cabinet represents the type of furniture available for offices and businesses in the early 20th century. It shows the hardware in use and the design detail such as the raised edges around the top of the cabinet.

Physical description

Cabinet or cupboard, stained dark brown and lacquered. Secure office storage with a lock and a key. Hinged, lift-up front panel door folds back against the lid. The inside is divided into thirteen compartments or pigeon holes. Inscribed in black painted script writing underneath. Once the property of Mrs Cambell.

Inscriptions & markings

Hand-painted on the base in black script writing "Mrs Cambell"