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.
£ 425
Arundel Eccentrics
Louis Philippe Chest
£ 800
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Georgian Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 595
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Victorian Painted Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 695
Philip Hunt Antiques
Victorian 2 Over 3 Mahogany Bow Chest of Drawers
£ 945
Georgian Antiques
Impressive Large 18th Century Rustic North Italian Walnut Commode
£ 4,500
LT Antiques
Pair of Victorian Walnut Bedside Chests
£ 1,150
Georgian Antiques
Early 19th Century French Inlaid Rosewood Two Drawer Commode of Desirable Proportions
£ 4,950
Early 19th Century French Inlaid Rosewood Two Drawer Commode of Desirable Proportions
£ 4,950
Georgian Antiques
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
George II Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 3,000
Driscolls Antiques Ltd
Spectacular Mahogany Antique Georgian Chest on Chest Tallboy
£ 1,650
The Old Pine Shop
Fabulous & Quality Old Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 649
Kernow Furniture
Antique Oak Georgian Chest on Chest
£ 1,195
Kernow Furniture
Antique Walnut Chest on Stand
£ 595
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Edwardian Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 495
Town House Traders Ltd
Quality Burr Walnut Chest on Chest Tallboy
£ 525
Antique & Decorative
George III Bow Front Chest of Drawers
£ 720
£ 695
LT Antiques
Pair of Victorian Walnut Bedside Chests
£ 1,250
Tony Youll Antiques
Early 20th Century Figured Walnut Commode
£ 1,250
Antique & Decorative
George III Mahogany Bow-front Chest of Drawers
£ 690
Tom Scott Antiques
French Cherry Wood Commode Chest of Drawers
£ 1,350
Antique & Decorative
Campaign Low Chest of Drawers
£ 540
Cloverleaf Home Interiors
Chest of Drawers Rare French Apple Wood Boulogne c.1840
£ 795
Philip Hunt Antiques
Mahogany Bow Front Chest of Drawers
£ 840
Georgian Antiques
Georgian Style Mahogany Tallboy - Edwardian Period c.1910
£ 1,290
Tom Scott Antiques
18th Century Oak Panelled Chest of Drawers
£ 895
Vintage House
Small Shabby Chic Chest of Drawers
£ 245
Harry Raine Antiques
Pair of French Carved Mahogany Bedside Chests
£ 565
Tom Scott Antiques
Georgian Oak Banded Chest of Drawers
Arundel Eccentrics
Decorated Victorian Chest of Drawers
£ 925
FB Antiques
Victorian Walnut Secataire Wellington Chest
£ 995
£ 600
London City Antiques
Antique Edwardian Quality Figured Mahogany Serpentine Chest of Drawers
£ 1,950
Antique Edwardian Quality Figured Mahogany Serpentine Chest of Drawers
£ 1,950
London City Antiques
£ 1,450
Worboys Antiques
Edwardian Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 440
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Antique Victorian Amboyna Bedside Chests
£ 1,750
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Serpentine Burr Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 850
D and A Binder LTD
Antique Jewellers Cabinet
£ 2,160
FB Antiques
Regency Mahogany Bow Front Chest of Drawers
£ 575
Cloverleaf Home Interiors
Chest of Drawers Rare Solid Elm Norfolk Chest George III C1800
£ 895
Chest of Drawers Rare Solid Elm Norfolk Chest George III C1800
£ 895
Cloverleaf Home Interiors
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.