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.
Lee Wright Antiques Ltd
18th Century French Walnut Commode
£ 2,800
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Antique Victorian Mahogany Bow Front Chest of Drawers with Wooden Handles
£ 750
Antique Victorian Mahogany Bow Front Chest of Drawers with Wooden Handles
£ 750
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Old Painted Furniture
Early 19th Century Mahogany Slide Chest of Drawers
£ 425
Old Painted Furniture
Late 18th Century Painted Mahogany Slide Chest of Drawers
£ 395
G Neville Antiques
Painted Furniture - Antique Painted Chest of Drawers or Commode with Venetian Scenes and Other Painted Decorations to Its Surfaces C1900
£ 4,950
Painted Furniture - Antique Painted Chest of Drawers or Commode with Venetian Scenes and Other Painted Decorations to Its Surfaces C1900
£ 4,950
G Neville Antiques
The Antique Shop
Pair of Walnut Bedside Cabinets / Chest of Drawers
£ 785
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Antique Victorian Figured Walnut & Brass Campaign Chest of 5 Drawers
£ 1,500
Antique Victorian Figured Walnut & Brass Campaign Chest of 5 Drawers
£ 1,500
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Antique 19th Century Padouk Anglo-Indian Campaign Secretaire Chest & Cupboard
£ 2,500
Antique 19th Century Padouk Anglo-Indian Campaign Secretaire Chest & Cupboard
£ 2,500
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Founders Antiques
Antique Victorian Mahogany Chest of Drawers c.1870
£ 795
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Antique 19th Century French Flame Mahogany & Brass Handled Marble Topped Commode
£ 1,200
Antique 19th Century French Flame Mahogany & Brass Handled Marble Topped Commode
£ 1,200
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Antique George III Mahogany Chest of 5 Drawers with Brass Handles & Bracket Feet
£ 650
Antique George III Mahogany Chest of 5 Drawers with Brass Handles & Bracket Feet
£ 650
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Barnaby's of Battle
Mid Century Dressing Table Chest of Drawers by Meredrew 1960s
£ 325
Camden Antiques
19th Century French Marquetry Commode
£ 2,450
Warner & Watts Antiques
Bow Fronted Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 375
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Victorian Small Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 595
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 20th Century Unique Chest of Drawers in Mahogany
£ 495
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 20th Century Golden Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 585
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 20th Century Low Chest Of Drawers In Oak
£ 495
Debenham Antiques Ltd
Mid 19th Century Traditional Swedish Painted Chest of Drawers
£ 2,295
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 20th Century Low Chest Of Drawers In Oak
£ 495
Town House Traders Ltd
Pair of Mahogany 4 Drawer Bedside Chests / Bedside Tables
£ 450
Marylebone Antiques
Danish Vintage Rosewood Bureau / Chest of Drawers
£ 1,450
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 20th Century Bow Front Chest of Drawers in Burr Walnut
£ 495
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 20th Century Inlaid Chest of Drawers in Mahogany
£ 495
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 20th Century Chest of Drawers in Burr Walnut
£ 495
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Small Antique Georgian Cuban Mahogany & Walnut Crossbanded Chest of Drawers
£ 1,500
Small Antique Georgian Cuban Mahogany & Walnut Crossbanded Chest of Drawers
£ 1,500
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Antique George III 1790 Mahogany & Brass Chest of 5 Drawers by J Moorcroft
£ 1,200
Antique George III 1790 Mahogany & Brass Chest of 5 Drawers by J Moorcroft
£ 1,200
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
£ 695
Town House Traders Ltd
Pair of Antique Walnut 3 Drawer Bedside Chests
£ 450
Timeless Furniture UK
Early Victorian Mahogany Three Drawer Chest of Drawers
£ 285
£ 599
Georgian Antiques
George II Style Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 1,050
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Georgian Welsh Oak Straight Front Chest of Drawers
£ 650
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
Quality Antique Pine Waxed 4 Drawer Victorian Chest of Drawers
£ 395
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Antique Scottish Victorian Flame Mahogany Chest of Drawers with Wooden Handles
£ 750
Antique Scottish Victorian Flame Mahogany Chest of Drawers with Wooden Handles
£ 750
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Town House Traders Ltd
Quality Burr Walnut Chest Of Drawers
£ 450
Millers Antiques
Scottish Farmhouse Pine Dresser
£ 1,850
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Georgian Mahogany Bow Front Chest of Drawers
£ 695
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Antique Yew Wood Military Campaign Bedside Cabinets / Side Tables
£ 1,250
Pair of Antique Yew Wood Military Campaign Bedside Cabinets / Side Tables
£ 1,250
Marylebone Antiques
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Mahogany Military Campaign Style Chest of Drawers
£ 1,250
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.