Antique 18th C Georgian Oak Mahogany Hinged Top Mule Chest Coffer Sideboard 1770

A good & large antique Lancashire country oak mule chest, coffer, sideboard, circa 1770.The chest having a hinged top enclosing a large storage area for bedding and clothing or? The two top banks of drawers are dummy drawers and the bottom three are functioning drawers, the reason why such chests were constructed in this manner was because it would be difficult to retrieve objects if the storage area went all the way to the base, so drawers were commonly fitted to the bases. The chest has reeded half columns at each side and brass cuffs to the top and base, the drawers have crossbanded mahogany edges which was typical in the Georgian period on Lancashire furniture. The chest retains the original brass handles and finish, the chest is paneled at each end and is raised on ogee bracket feet.It is believe that the reason that such chests were called "mule" chest was that the the drawers to the base were used to store slippers, during the 17th & 18th century slippers were referred t