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.
Georgian Antiques
Pair of Victorian Small Mahogany Chest of Drawers/bedside Lockers
£ 1,325
Salisbury Antiques Centre
Fine Regency Mahogany Bowfronted Chest of Drawers
£ 880
Philip Hunt Antiques
Victorian Painted 2 Over 3 Chest of Drawers
£ 745
Georgian Antiques
Superb Pair of Mid-victorian Small Mahogany Chests/lockers in Flame Spanish Mahogany
£ 1,590
Superb Pair of Mid-victorian Small Mahogany Chests/lockers in Flame Spanish Mahogany
£ 1,590
Georgian Antiques
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Victorian Ash Chest Of Drawers
£ 495
Georgian Antiques
Pair of Mid Victorian Neat-sized Figured Mahogany Bedside Lockers
£ 1,100
£ 1,375
Pair of Victorian Inlaid Burr Walnut Small Chests / Lockers with Chamfered Corners
£ 1,375
Georgian Antiques
London City Antiques
Antique Quality French Kingwood & Marquetry Inlaid Marble Top Commode / Chest of Drawers
£ 4,450
Antique Quality French Kingwood & Marquetry Inlaid Marble Top Commode / Chest of Drawers
£ 4,450
London City Antiques
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Georgian Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 750
Town House Traders Ltd
Pair of Small Antique Mahogany Bedside Chest of Drawers
£ 750
Alain Michel Antiques
George III Mahogany Chest of Drawers - 18th Century
€ 2,400
Old Painted Furniture
George III Inlaid Mahogany Chest of Four Drawers
£ 495
Harper Baxter
Georgian Bedside Cabinet Mahogany Side Table
£ 60
Marylebone Antiques
Art Deco Figured Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 1,250
The Old Pine Shop
Lovely & Quality Old Victorian Pine Chest Drawers
£ 599
Harper Baxter
Art Deco Burr Maple Dressing Table Chest of Drawers
£ 180
Georgian Antiques
French Serpentine Front Marble Top Kingwood & Walnut Commode
£ 1,490
The Old Pine Shop
Large & Quality Old Victorian Pine Chest Drawers
£ 599
Kernow Furniture
Antique Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 595
The Old Pine Shop
Lovely, Large & Rare Old Victorian Pine Chest Drawers/ Tall Boy
£ 749
Sussex Antiques and Interiors
Pretty French Bleached Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 895
Camden Antiques
Pitch Pine Aesthetic Period Chest of Drawers
£ 850
Georgian Antiques
Pair of Mahogany Bedsides by Whytock & Reid of Edinburgh
£ 1,650
Old Painted Furniture
Early 19th Century Mahogany Bow Front Chest of Drawers
£ 345
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Regency Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 695
Georgian Antiques
George III Red Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 1,500
Driscolls Antiques Ltd
Small Georgian Design Edwardian Antique Chest of Drawers
£ 795
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Specimen Chest of Drawers
£ 395
Harper Baxter
Victorian Chest of Drawers Country Mahogany
£ 240
£ 280
£ 295
Sunnyside Antiques
Chest on Chest Tallboy
£ 1,595
Georgian Antiques
Solid Camphor Wood & Brass Bound Campaign Chest
£ 2,450
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Antique French Kingwood Bedside Chests
£ 1,250
Harper Baxter
Georgian Oak Chest of Drawers 18th Century
£ 340
Marylebone Antiques
Burr Walnut Bachelors Chest of Drawers
£ 650
Marylebone Antiques
Mahogany Campaign Style Chest of Drawers
£ 885
The Vintage Interiors
Painted French Chest of Drawers
£ 395
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
Anglo Chinese Padouk Secretaire Chest of Campaign Construction
£ 1,620
Anglo Chinese Padouk Secretaire Chest of Campaign Construction
£ 1,620
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
Low & Wide Painted Black Victorian Antique Pine 8 Drawer Chest of Drawers
£ 725
Low & Wide Painted Black Victorian Antique Pine 8 Drawer Chest of Drawers
£ 725
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
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.