Founded as Taprell, Holland & Sons in 1835, the firm was trading as Holland & Sons from 1843 and became one of the largest quality firms producing throughout the Victorian period. They procured awards at the major exhibitions and worked extensively for the Royal family, furnishing Osborne, Balmoral & Sandringham (E. Aslin, 19th Century English Furniture, 1962, p. 85). An ashwood chest of this form cost 16 pounds, 10 shillings in 1868 and is illustrated in R.W. Symonds and B.B. Whineray, Victorian Furniture, 1962, p. 174, pl. 242.