An antique chest of drawers is central to any bedroom as it not only adds much needed charm to the space but often provides deeper drawers than its modern counterpart. They first appeared in the mid-17th Century from a large coffer or chest with drawers in the base. There are many sizes, looks and drawer combinations that you can choose from but the most popular remain the bow front and the serpentine fronted chests of the 18th and 19th Centuries found in oak, mahogany or painted. Often these chests would be decorated with sweeping legs, intricate inlays or cuts of veneer and were complemented with well-cast brass handles.
The great thing about antique and vintage chests is that you know they were well made when new as they have already survived sometimes hundreds of years. Antique chests can be found in all sizes and forms from Bedside Drawers and smaller sized Chests to the larger Wellington and Tallboy Chests with their banks of drawers.
During the 20th Century the form of the chest of drawers did not change, but the decoration did. Within the Arts and Crafts period people were admiring the honesty of a simple well-constructed wooden piece, and by the Mid-Century designers were exploring slender Atomic-style legs and bold coloured melamine finishes.
When looking for a unique chest of drawers for the bedroom then Antique and Vintage examples really do offer many great choices, and at LoveAntiques we have an unrivalled selection for you.
Fernyhough Antiques Ltd
Super Chinese Low Chest of Drawers
£ 795
London City Antiques
Antique Victorian Quality Mahogany Chest of 4 Drawers
£ 1,185
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Art Deco Birds Eye Maple Bedside Cabinets
£ 750
Marylebone Antiques
Large Antique Victorian Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 1,250
Matthew Coles Antiques
Satin Birch Wellington Chest of Drawers
£ 650
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 650
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 650
£ 599
George III Mahogany Chest on Chest with Two Short and Three Graded Long Drawer
£ 599
Bosston Ltd
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Art Deco Figured Walnut Bedside Cabinets
£ 1,250
Beresford Antiques Ltd
Late Regency Flame Mahogany Five Height Chest of Drawers
£ 695
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 650
Marylebone Antiques
Georgian Style Mahogany Bow Front Chest of Drawers
£ 395
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Satinwood Inlaid Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 525
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 650
Hingstons Antiques
George II Walnut Tallboy with Sunburst
£ 9,500
D and A Binder LTD
Restored 1930s Tall Oak Chest Of Drawers
£ 720
D and A Binder LTD
Late Victorian Chemist Drawers
£ 780
Old Painted Furniture
Mid Victorian Painted Mahogany Bow Front Chest of Drawers
£ 465
Wilsford Antiques
French 19th Century Commode with Black Original Marble Top
£ 1,030
Marylebone Antiques
Art Deco Walnut Tallboy Chest / Cabinet
£ 850
Penderyn Antiques
Small Antique Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 595
Debenham Antiques Ltd
Swedish 19th Century Carved Birch Chest of Drawers
£ 1,995
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 20th Century Small Chest On Chest In Mahogany
£ 350
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 18th Century Chest On Chest In Mahogany
£ 1,650
House of Clarnold
20th Century Minister Yew Miniature Tallboy
£ 350
Rams Head Antiques
Superb Antique French Bombe Commode Chest
£ 1,950
Antiques & Chic
Mahogany Campaign Chest. Brass Handles & Brass Bound
£ 1,095
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
A Rare Antique / Old Pine Victorian Collectors Chest of Drawers to Wax/paint
£ 1,095
A Rare Antique / Old Pine Victorian Collectors Chest of Drawers to Wax/paint
£ 1,095
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
Lee Wright Antiques Ltd
Rare 17th Century English Marquetry Chest of Drawers
£ 11,500
Lee Wright Antiques Ltd
Late 18th Century French Walnut Commode
£ 3,600
LT Antiques
Victorian Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 795
William Rand Antiques
Victorian Mahogany Chest Of Drawers By Holland And Sons
£ 2,100
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 975
Walton House Antiques Ltd
Georgian Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 875
The Antique Shop
Small Burr Walnut Bow Fronted Chest of Drawers
£ 645
The Antique Shop
Burr Walnut Antique Tallboy Chest on Chest of Drawers
£ 835
Stalham Antique Gallery
Mahogany Dressing Chest. With Four Graduated Drawers
£ 650
The Old Yard
Large Oak Bank of Drawers
£ 2,450
Town House Traders Ltd
Antique Mahogany Bank Of Haberdashery Draws
£ 1,350
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Small Antique Stripped Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 350
If they’re original, the handles would be a good indication. The pear drop handles on each drawer will tell you that the furniture will either be from the Queen Anne or the William and Mary period. Swan neck handles would mean that the item was created from the 1750s onwards. Mouldings would also be able to tell you the date these chests were manufactured. The 17th century had mouldings applied to the carcass, but in the 18th century, these were transferred to the drawers’ edges. During the George II period, the drawers had ovolo mouldings. By 1760, cock bead moulding was used on drawers.
A dresser or the dressing table has drawers where folded clothes as well as lingerie were kept. It has a mirror attached to it. A chest of drawers, on the other hand, only has drawers as well as a top space.
Check the inside as well as the back side of the chest of drawers. You should be able to find a stamp or label that would indicate the name of the company that created the furniture. There are also some cases wherein the year as well as the city where the antique chest was created would be placed. Much like other antiques, if hand crafted, you would find indications like the name or the initials. Other than being built using wood such as teak, burr walnut, oak, and mahogany, these items also have notable features; for example, you could find an antique chest of drawers on wheels, which lessened any problem on mobility. A large antique chest of drawers in the United Kingdom, including an antique tall chest of drawers, could cost between £300 and £7,000. There are chests with bun feet, which could cost between £125 and £3800, or even more, called as such due to the feet being shaped like a flattened sphere, a known feature in 17th century furniture. Time periods such as the Georgian and Victorian regency eras, Edwardian, Queen Anne, William Mary, 18th century, and 19th century each have notable characteristics that would help a dealer value these types of antiques.
Chest of drawers refers to a furniture piece with a set of drawers in its frame. This versatile and essential type of storage is where clothes are usually kept, but it can also store other things. Albeit ideally for the bedroom, the chest of drawers can also be placed in other areas such as the studies and sitting rooms.
A vintage style chest of drawers sale UK dealers are offering could start at £220. The cost of an old vintage chest of drawers varies among sellers, but it depends on a lot of factors, from the condition of the item to its rarity, to the material used.