Victorian Teak Military Chest by Army & Navy

Very good late Victorian period military chest of drawers by Army and Navy Co-operative Society Ltd. It is of good construction in solid teak with mahogany drawer linings. With an arrangement of 5 drawers and fitted with original solid brass handles and mounts. The top drawer bearing the ivorine label for Army and Navy CSL. All standing on original turned bun feet. It splits into 2 sections for ease of installation. The Army & Navy Co-Operative Society Ltd was formed in 1871 by a group of British army and navy officers. It was their intention to supply articles of domestic consumption and general use to its members at the lowest rates. The first store opened on 15 February 1872 at Victoria Street, London. At the end of 1873 a gun department was established. By the end of the century the Society was issuing an enormous annual illustrated price list, had introduced telephone ordering and had reduced mail order prices. In 1934 the company's official name became the Army and Navy Store Ltd and in 1973 Army and Navy Stores was taken over by House of Fraser.