Caronia Dresser, First Class

Product Description

Over the past few years at Luxury Liner Row, I have been fortunate to sell about a dozen beautiful mahogany second-class chests of drawers from the RMS Queen Mary, and they have all sold quickly.  This, however, is the only time I have been able to offer a first-class Cunard Line dresser.  Since nearly all of the built-in first-class furniture from the Queen Mary is still on board, this may be your only chance to obtain a stunning first-class dresser from one of Cunard’s finest ships.

This dresser is from cabin R-14, a first-class, single cabin forward on the port side of R Deck.  I believe it is veneered in figured avodire, a wood found in the western and central regions of Africa.  Avodire is exquisite when refinished, and your restorer will make this shine like a new penny!

This chest comes to us from a family that purchased several items of furniture from the RMS Caronia’s (ss Caribia) sale in NYC back in 1974.  They learned about the sale when they saw a handbill posted on a telephone pole near Central Park.  If they hadn’t seen that flyer, I wouldn’t be able to offer this to you today!

Happily, the original handles are in good condition.  The base is cut to the sheer of the ship, but this can be easily remedied. Measures about 27.5″ tall x 22.5″ wide and 21″ deep.  One side of the chest shows where another small cabinet was originally fitted next to it, but a restorer can make this disappear.  The size of this chest makes it fit well in any setting, including smaller rooms.  What a show stopper it will be when it’s redone!  Or you can choose to keep the original finish as it is still quite lovely.  See archival photo for a similar chest on board Caronia.