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.
Alain Michel Antiques
Small Walnut Chest Of Drawers Called Tombeau Commode - 18th Century
€ 3,900
Small Walnut Chest Of Drawers Called Tombeau Commode - 18th Century
€ 3,900
Alain Michel Antiques
D and A Binder LTD
1920s Shop Haberdashery Drawer
£ 1,500
Rawlings Antiques
Pair of Victorian Bedside Chests of Drawers
£ 1,295
Harper Baxter
Georgian Bachelors Chest of Drawers Mahogany
£ 1,800
£ 2,300
Barnaby's of Battle
Antique Oak Ornately Carved Bureau Mid 19th Century
£ 695
Philip Hunt Antiques
Victorian Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 895
Camden Antiques
Gillows Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 1,695
Marylebone Antiques
Antique French Bombe Commode in Olive Wood
£ 1,250
Marylebone Antiques
Small Antique Burr Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 475
Timeless Furniture UK
Vintage Jacobean Style Carved Medium Oak Dressing Chest By L Marcus, Bentley Works London
£ 275
Vintage Jacobean Style Carved Medium Oak Dressing Chest By L Marcus, Bentley Works London
£ 275
Timeless Furniture UK
Lee Wright Antiques Ltd
18th Century English Walnut Chest on Chest
£ 5,950
LT Antiques
18th Century Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 1,250
Timeless Furniture UK
Early 20th Century Mahogany Dressing Chest
£ 225
Harper Baxter
Georgian Chest of Drawers 18th Century Mahogany
£ 850
Harper Baxter
Georgian Chest of Drawers Mahogany
£ 880
Harry Raine Antiques
Good Quality Small Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 365
Antique & Decorative
George III Style Tallboy Chest of Drawers c.1920
£ 740
Marylebone Antiques
Georgian Style Yew Wood Chest of Drawers / Sideboard
£ 1,525
Fernyhough Antiques Ltd
Excellent Quality Burr Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 995
£ 775
William IV Neat-sized Mahogany Cellarette in The Form of a Chest of Drawers
£ 775
Georgian Antiques
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
French Empire Mahogany Marble Top Commode
£ 1,620
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Victorian Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 650
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Edwardian Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 650
Penderyn Antiques
Victorian Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 595
Town House Traders Ltd
Antique Mahogany 4 Drawer Bedside Chest of Drawers
£ 495
Timeless Furniture UK
Vintage Burr Walnut Veneered Chest on Stand
£ 495
London City Antiques
Antique George III Quality Mahogany Chest on Chest
£ 2,950
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Burr Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 1,250
Marylebone Antiques
Walnut Bedside / Side Chest of Drawers
£ 425
Marylebone Antiques
Mahogany Bedside / Side Chest of Drawers
£ 375
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
Lovely Massive Victorian Antique Pine 4 Drawer Chest of Drawers to paint / wax
£ 825
Lovely Massive Victorian Antique Pine 4 Drawer Chest of Drawers to paint / wax
£ 825
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
Harper Baxter
18th Century Oak Chest of Drawers Georgian
£ 980
Marylebone Antiques
Queen Anne Style Burr Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 575
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 950
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Teak Military Campaign Secretaire Chest of Drawers
£ 3,250
Harry Raine Antiques
French Parquetry Commode with Marble Top - Marconi Arte
£ 750
Fernyhough Antiques Ltd
Very Good Georgian Oak Chest of Drawers of Small Proportions
£ 795
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Georgian Oak Chest on Chest with Secretaire & Hidden Compartment
£ 2,000
Georgian Oak Chest on Chest with Secretaire & Hidden Compartment
£ 2,000
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Victorian Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 550
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.