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.
Fernyhough Antiques Ltd
Pair French Marquetry Bedside Lamp Tables
£ 1,295
The Old Pine Shop
Large/shallow Quality Old Victorian Pine Chest Of Drawers/ Sideboard
£ 699
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Military Campaign Style Chest of Drawers in Yew Wood
£ 950
Driscolls Antiques Ltd
Stunning Small Antique Edwardian Serpentine Chest of Drawers
£ 795
Sussex Antiques and Interiors
Stunning French Faux Bamboo Chest of Drawers
£ 1,950
Old Painted Furniture
Late 19th Century Painted Country Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 385
Penderyn Antiques
Antique 19th Century Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 695
Graham Deakin Antiques
Victorian Mahogany Drawers
£ 450
LT Antiques
Georgian Mahogany Chest of Small Proportions
£ 675
Holmes Antiques
Small 18th Century Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 2,600
Graham Deakin Antiques
Arts & Crafts Chest of Drawers by Edwards & Roberts
£ 950
Victoria Antiques
Walnut Chest of 6 Drawers
£ 750
Beau French Boutique
French Marquetry Petite Chest Drawers With Marble Top
£ 695
Beresford Antiques Ltd
Late C19th Walnut Four Height Chest of Drawers with Solid Brass Handles
£ 375
Late C19th Walnut Four Height Chest of Drawers with Solid Brass Handles
£ 375
Beresford Antiques Ltd
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 19th Century French Chest Of Drawers In Walnut
£ 785
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 18th Century Good Quality Oak Chest Of Drawers
£ 625
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 18th Century Small Bow Front Chest Of Drawers
£ 650
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 18th Century Finest Quality Mahogany Chest Of Drawers
£ 785
Timeless Furniture UK
19th Century Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 350
Timeless Furniture UK
Victorian Mahogany Cross Banded Chest of Drawers
£ 375
Timeless Furniture UK
Small Reproduction Bow Front Chest of Four Drawers
£ 195
Timeless Furniture UK
Victorian Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 400
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Georgian Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 750
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Victorian Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 696
JMR Antiques Ltd
18th Century Italian Painted Chest of Drawers
£ 2,995
Tony Youll Antiques
18th Century Rococo Commode in Walnut
£ 1,950
£ 8,850
Early 19th Century Chinese Export Burr Amboyna & Ebony Secretaire Chest of Drawers
£ 8,850
Loveday Antiques
London City Antiques
Antique William & Mary Quality Figured Walnut Chest on Stand
£ 3,450
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Yew Wood Bachelors Chest of Drawers
£ 650
Town House Traders Ltd
Antique Lacquered Chinoiserie Chest On Stand
£ 1,350
Antiques & Chic
Pair of Victorian Bedside Drawers
£ 675
Old Painted Furniture
Early 19th Century Painted Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 325
Town House Traders Ltd
Pair of Walnut 4 Drawer Bedside Chests Bedside Chest of Drawers
£ 490
Old Painted Furniture
Late 19th Century Painted Pine Bank of Drawers
£ 1,345
Town House Traders Ltd
Pair of Walnut 4 Drawer Bedside Chests Bedside Chest of Drawers
£ 480
Penderyn Antiques
Antique 19th Century Welsh Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 695
Pinefinders Old Pine Furniture Warehouse
Antique Pine Chest of 4 Drawers
£ 460
London City Antiques
Antique George III Quality Figured Mahogany Chest of 4 Drawers
£ 1,365
LT Antiques
18th Century Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 875
Lascombe Interiors
Charming Early Georgian Walnut Chest on Chest
£ 2,750
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.