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.
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 18th Century Fine Quality Chest Of Drawers In Oak
£ 785
ActFurniture LTD
Antique Small 20th Century Chest Of Drawers In Mahogany
£ 350
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 20th Century Chest Of Drawers In Oak
£ 325
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
A Late 19th Century Continental Marble Topped Commode
£ 3,695
A Late 19th Century Continental Marble Topped Commode
£ 3,695
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
Cloverleaf Home Interiors
Chest of Drawers Rare George III Mahogany Collectors Chest C17900
£ 295
Chest of Drawers Rare George III Mahogany Collectors Chest C17900
£ 295
Cloverleaf Home Interiors
ActFurniture LTD
Antique Small 20th Century Chest Of Drawers In Oak
£ 250
ActFurniture LTD
Antique Late 19th Century Chest Of Drawers In Ash
£ 550
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 20th Century Unusual Chest Of Drawers In Oak
£ 395
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 18th Century Bow Front Chest Of Drawers In Mahogany
£ 625
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 18th Century Bow Front Chest Of Drawers In Mahogany
£ 425
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 18th Century Chest Of Drawers In Mahogany
£ 565
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Victorian Mahogany Bow Front Chest of Drawers
£ 595
ActFurniture LTD
Antique Small 20th Century Chest Of Drawers In Mahogany
£ 325
Harry Raine Antiques
Carved Mahogany Chest on Stand
£ 325
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 20th Century Chest Of Drawers In Walnut
£ 495
Debenham Antiques Ltd
19th Century Scandinavian Burr Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 1,895
Marylebone Antiques
Art Deco Sycamore and Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 2,750
Alain Michel Antiques
17th Century Jacobean Oak Chest Of Drawers
€ 3,700
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Art Deco Sycamore and Walnut Bedside Cabinets
£ 2,250
Antiques & Chic
Edwardian Plan Chest. Splits In Two. 8 Large Drawers
£ 825
Andros Antiques
Early Georgian Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 1,125
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Antique Tabletop Filing Drawers
£ 160
FB Antiques
George III Mahogany Chest on Chest
£ 1,500
Penderyn Antiques
Antique 19th Century Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 695
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Burr Walnut Chest on Chest of Drawers
£ 1,250
Georgian Antiques
Pair of Victorian Satin Birch Bedside Lockers
£ 1,250
Penderyn Antiques
Antique George III Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 695
Antique & Decorative
C19th Mahogany Hall Chest Of Drawers
£ 890
£ 499
Old Antique Victorian Pine Gallery Back Chest of Drawers/baby Changing Unit
£ 499
The Old Pine Shop
£ 699
Antique & Decorative
Pair Of French Bedside Cabinets
£ 580
Millers Antiques
Heals Light Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 1,950
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Small Antique Stripped Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 375
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Antique Stripped Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 395
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Edwardian Dressing Table Chest of Drawers
£ 595
Founders Antiques
Antique Victorian Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 525
Founders Antiques
Antique 19th Century Mahogany Pedestal Chest of Drawers
£ 385
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Small Victorian Mahogany Bow Front Chest of Drawers
£ 450
Small Victorian Mahogany Bow Front Chest of Drawers
£ 450
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Founders Antiques
Antique Victorian Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 485
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Large Regency Mahogany Bow Front Chest of Drawers
£ 595
Large Regency Mahogany Bow Front Chest of Drawers
£ 595
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors 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.