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The cabinet was presented to Hester Maria (Queeney) Thrale by Dr Samuel Johnson in July 1784 to hold the shells, fossils and minerals he intended to collect for her on his travels — though he twice, in 1772 and 1773, apologised for finding little. The upper section contains eleven drawers and a cupboard behind finely inlaid folding doors, with four drawers beneath. The cabinet survives at Bowood House.