Ask an Expert

Cupboard Love

I wonder if your experts could help me identify the use of this small cabinet that I bought recently for £10. Unfortunately it did not come with a key to lock the doors, but has a position pin to secure one of them. It is quite heavy and has a mysterious (to me!) indented circle on the shelf inside. Thank you for a very enjoyable magazine.

Kath Hannabus, Coulsdon, Greater London

Your small cabinet is an oak table-top smoker’s compendium dating from c1900. They typically have an arrangement of drawers for accessories; some may even have a pipe rack. The mystery depression is where a tobacco jar would have