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.
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
Interesting Painted 19th Century Chest of Drawers
£ 2,100
Salisbury Antiques Centre
George III Mahogany & Satinwood Chest of Drawers
£ 1,750
Debenham Antiques Ltd
19th Century Burr Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 1,750
Rawlings Antiques
Pair of Victorian Burr Walnut Bedside Chests of Drawers
£ 1,195
Debenham Antiques Ltd
Mid 20th Century Birch & Burr Chest of Drawers by Carl Malmsten
£ 1,995
Mid 20th Century Birch & Burr Chest of Drawers by Carl Malmsten
£ 1,995
Debenham Antiques Ltd
London City Antiques
Antique George I Quality Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 2,650
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Antique Victorian Mahogany Bedside Chests
£ 1,250
Alain Michel Antiques
19th Century Mahogany Campaign / Marine Chest of Drawers
€ 3,200
£ 595
£ 850
Vintage House
Restored Antique Oak Chest of Drawers with Inlays
£ 650
£ 595
Barnaby's of Battle
Carpenter's Box with Drawers Inside
£ 195
Casnewydd Antiques
Small Antique Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 390
Barnaby's of Battle
Antique Small Six Drawer Chest of Drawers
£ 195
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
A 19thc French Directoire Walnut Marble Topped Commode
£ 2,150
A 19thc French Directoire Walnut Marble Topped Commode
£ 2,150
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
The Antique Shop
Burr Walnut Serpentine Chest of Drawers
£ 435
Casnewydd Antiques
Antique Rustic Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 320
The Antique Shop
Burr Walnut Tallboy Chest on Chest of Drawers
£ 595
Casnewydd Antiques
Antique Rustic Pine Large Chest of Drawers
£ 490
Marylebone Antiques
French Inlaid Marble Top Cabinet
£ 1,250
Millers Antiques
Georgian Serpentine Chest of Drawers
£ 1,600
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Georgian Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 595
Walton House Antiques Ltd
Regency Mahogany Bow Fronted Chest of Drawers
£ 850
Antiques & Chic
Georgian Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 1,075
Old Painted Furniture
Early 19th Century Painted Mahogany Bow Fronted Chest
£ 425
£ 485
LT Antiques
Victorian Pollard Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 950
The Old Pine Shop
Wow! Huge Old Pine Chest of 5 Drawers
£ 799
Lee Wright Antiques Ltd
18th Century Italian Walnut Serpentine Commode
£ 6,500
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Georgian Mahogany Chest on Chest
£ 1,850
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Large Victorian Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 460
Lee Wright Antiques Ltd
18th Century French Walnut Commode
£ 3,400
London City Antiques
Antique William & Mary Quality Figured Walnut Chest on Stand
£ 3,450
Marylebone Antiques
Military Campaign Style Long Chest of Drawers Sideboard
£ 1,750
Camden Antiques
George III Mahogany Bachelors Chest of Drawers
£ 1,850
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Mahogany Bow Front Chest of Drawers
£ 695
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
18th Century Bleached Oak Chest on Chest
£ 2,550
The Old Yard
19th Century Victorian Pine Bank of Drawers
£ 2,250
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Early 17th Century Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 2,850
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.