A Good Quality Late 19th Century Walnut Miniature Chest, with Crossbanded Decoration Top Top, Over Five Long Drawers with Replacement Turned Brass Knobs And Crossbanded Decoration, Raised On Original Plinth Base. Much discussion is had over the original purpose of almost all miniature furniture and the simple answer is that we will probably never know what the majority of pieces original intended function was. One use was of course pieces which were made as travelling salesman’s sample pieces, which is where a few articles were made as scale models in advance of a road trip on which the salesman would travel the country showing prospective clients the kind of items which they could produce back at the workshop and take orders from. Another alternative is pieces which were produced by apprentices attempting to showcase their skills and gain employment at the cabinet making workshop of their choosing. They would make a small piece of miniature furniture and the boss would use this as a way of assessing their cabonet making skills and decide whether to offer them a job or not. Circa 1880. Height 19.25in. Width 16.25in. Depth 10.5in.