This fabulous, fully lockable, filing cabinet was made in Melbourne at a time when the CBD was a prominent, post gold rush furniture making precinct.  As the gold rush came to an end in the mid to later 1800’s, many Chinese miners came from the regional Gold fields around Melbourne to take up new trades.  Many became furniture makers, 100’s of which had factories in the CBD furniture making precinct of Lonsdale, Little Lonsdale, Exhibition Streets and a number of the little connecting laneways.  The maker, Sam Yick, based in Little Lonsdale St, is on a list of Chinese furniture makers that was compiled in 1912.  It features;

• solid oak timber construction
• circa 1910
• 3 hand-cut dovetail-joined file drawers
• 3 locks, 1 key
• complete & matching angular timber handles
• Florentine bronze label plates
• complete & matching brass knobs for the sway plates
• sway plates and slide rods in each drawer
• makers stamp – Sam Yick, Little Lonsdale St

Condition overview; in good condition relative to its age, it is a very solid piece and all the drawers work well.  As to be expected on a used piece of this vintage, it displays general wear, knock and surface marks.

Dimensions; 535mm wide x 540mm deep x 1090mm high