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.
Daniel Clark Furniture
Victorian Pine Blue Painted Chest of Drawers
£ 695
Salisbury Antiques Centre
19th Century Bank of 7 Drawers
£ 1,895
Antique & Decorative
Art Deco Dressing Chest by Heals
£ 790
Antique & Decorative
Campaign Chest of Drawers
£ 820
Paul Watson Antiques & Interiors Norfolk
Burr Walnut 5 Drawer Canted Corner Chest 1930s
£ 675
Paul Watson Antiques & Interiors Norfolk
Burr Walnut Bowfront 6 Drawer Chest c.1930
£ 675
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Burr Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 1,190
London City Antiques
Antique George I Quality Figured Walnut Two Part Chest of Five Drawers
£ 1,885
Antique George I Quality Figured Walnut Two Part Chest of Five Drawers
£ 1,885
London City Antiques
Wickersley Antiques
Good Georgian 4 High Chest of Drawers
£ 690
Wickersley Antiques
18th Century Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 695
Georgian Antiques
George III Serpentine Fronted Figured Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 2,750
Salisbury Antiques Centre
Mid 18th Century George II Period Mahogany Tallboy
£ 3,850
Harry Raine Antiques
Tall Slim Inlaid Mahogany Chest of Drawers, Labelled Bradley Furniture
£ 225
Tall Slim Inlaid Mahogany Chest of Drawers, Labelled Bradley Furniture
£ 225
Harry Raine Antiques
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Victorian Golden Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 650
Penderyn Antiques
Antique 19th Century Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 650
Driscolls Antiques Ltd
Tall Antique Victorian Mahogany Chest of Drawers by J.Maple
£ 1,450
Alain Michel Antiques
Small Mahogany Chest of Drawers with Inlays - 18th Century
€ 2,400
LT Antiques
Victorian Figured Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 1,050
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
Regency Bow Fronted Chest of Drawers
£ 1,230
Salisbury Antiques Centre
Mahogany Dressing Chest c.1770
£ 4,950
London City Antiques
Antique Quality French Parquetry Marble Top Commode Chest of Drawers
£ 4,500
Antique Quality French Parquetry Marble Top Commode Chest of Drawers
£ 4,500
London City Antiques
£ 1,850
Salisbury Antiques Centre
Irish Highboy c.1750
£ 10,950
Worboys Antiques
Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 465
Driscolls Antiques Ltd
Small Georgian Design Edwardian Antique Chest of Drawers
£ 695
London City Antiques
Outstanding Quality Antique 18th Century George III Mahogany Serpentine Chest of Drawers
£ 3,450
Outstanding Quality Antique 18th Century George III Mahogany Serpentine Chest of Drawers
£ 3,450
London City Antiques
Salisbury Antiques Centre
Victorian Mahogany Chest c.1870
£ 480
Salisbury Antiques Centre
19th Century Drop Flap Table Chest of Drawers
£ 650
London City Antiques
Outstanding Quality Antique George III Figured Mahogany Tall Chest of Five Drawers
£ 2,350
Outstanding Quality Antique George III Figured Mahogany Tall Chest of Five Drawers
£ 2,350
London City Antiques
Antiques & Chic
Naval Campaign Chest of Drawers
£ 1,295
B Southgate
French Oak Marble Top Chest of Drawers
£ 1,450
LT Antiques
Victorian Stencilled Pine Dressing Chest
£ 650
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 19th Century Chest of Drawers in Mahogany
£ 685
£ 765
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 20th Century Chest of Drawers in Walnut
£ 365
Beresford Antiques Ltd
George III Six Height Mahogany 2 Piece Chest of Drawers
£ 795
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 20th Century Inlaid Chest of Drawers in Oak
£ 495
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 18th Century Small Chest of Drawers in Mahogany
£ 585
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 18th Century Chest on Chest in Mahogany
£ 1,650
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 19th Century Chest of Drawers in Mahogany
£ 585
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.