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.
Worboys Antiques
Late 19th Century Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 575
Oakfield Gallery
Georgian Oak Chest of Drawers c.1780
£ 495
Oakfield Gallery
Georgian Mahogany Chest of Drawers (Canted Corners) c.1800
£ 495
Marylebone Antiques
Military Campaign Style Chest of Drawers in Yew Wood
£ 750
Worboys Antiques
Small Edwardian Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 450
Vintage Garden UK
Pair of Mahogany Empire Bedside Chests of Drawers
£ 595
Fernyhough Antiques Ltd
Top Quality Queen Anne Burr Walnut Chest on Stand
£ 1,495
Town House Traders Ltd
Quality Antique Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 365
Penderyn Antiques
Antique 19th Century Mahogany Bow Front Chest of Drawers
£ 695
Penderyn Antiques
Large Antique Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 695
Georgian Antiques
Neat Sized Victorian Chest of Drawers
£ 800
Georgian Antiques
Quality Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 1,650
Bentleigh Antiques
Chest of Drawers Georgian Style Hardwood Miniature Chest of Five Drawers
£ 245
Chest of Drawers Georgian Style Hardwood Miniature Chest of Five Drawers
£ 245
Bentleigh Antiques
LT Antiques
19th Century French Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 795
£ 315
Oak Chest of Drawers Two Short Over Two Long George the VI 1940 Government Issue
£ 315
Bentleigh Antiques
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
Fabulous Yew Wood Oyster Tallboy / Chest on Chest
£ 8,450
Marylebone Antiques
Antique French Inlaid Marquetry Bombe Chest
£ 850
Town House Traders Ltd
Quality Slim Walnut Chest on Chest Tallboy
£ 390
Town House Traders Ltd
Quality Pair of Mahogany 4 Drawer Bedside Chests / Bedside Tables
£ 440
Quality Pair of Mahogany 4 Drawer Bedside Chests / Bedside Tables
£ 440
Town House Traders Ltd
£ 6,500
Exceptional French Marble-top Serpentine-front Inlaid Rosewood Commode
£ 6,500
Georgian Antiques
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Large antique Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 495
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Small Stripped Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 350
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Antique Stripped Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 495
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Victorian Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 595
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Small Georgian Mahogany Bow Front Chest of Drawers
£ 425
Small Georgian Mahogany Bow Front Chest of Drawers
£ 425
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Georgian Antiques
Pair of Monumental Satinwood Pedestals
£ 2,450
Philip Hunt Antiques
Pair of Good Quality Victorian Burr Walnut Bedsides
£ 1,475
London City Antiques
Antique Quality Burr Walnut Chest of Four Drawers with Brushing Slide
£ 1,385
Antique Quality Burr Walnut Chest of Four Drawers with Brushing Slide
£ 1,385
London City Antiques
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Edwardian Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 650
Rawlings Antiques
Large Regency Bow Front Chest of Drawers
£ 895
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
Louis Philippe French Walnut Commode with Hidden Drawer
£ 1,370
Louis Philippe French Walnut Commode with Hidden Drawer
£ 1,370
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
Hingstons Antiques
Small George II Walnut Secretaire Chest
£ 2,850
Paul Watson Antiques & Interiors Norfolk
Fine Burr Walnut 6 Drawer Chest with Cupboard
£ 950
Fine Burr Walnut 6 Drawer Chest with Cupboard
£ 950
Paul Watson Antiques & Interiors Norfolk
£ 2,449
Early c.18th George I Walnut Chest of Drawers (georgian Queen Anne William Mary)
£ 2,449
Leeds Antiques
Tony Youll Antiques
18th Century Flame Mahogany Semainier
£ 1,850
Millers Antiques
19thc Narrow Irish Chest of Drawers
£ 1,450
Camden Antiques
Tall Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 795
Camden Antiques
Inlaid Mahogany Georgian Bachelors Chest of Drawers
£ 850
Harry Raine Antiques
Mahogany Serpentine Chest of Drawers in The Chippendale Style
£ 475
Wickersley Antiques
A Miniature Wellington Chest in Walnut
£ 395
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.