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.
NP & A SALT ANTIQUES
Large Edwardian Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 450
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Victorian Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 595
Clifford & Evans
Victorian Four-draw Chest of Drawers in Later Green Paint
£ 295
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
An Attractive 19thc Italian Painted Serpentine Commode Chest
£ 2,550
An Attractive 19thc Italian Painted Serpentine Commode Chest
£ 2,550
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
Barnaby's of Battle
Antique Pine Two Over Two Chest of Drawers 1920s
£ 325
Matthew Coles Antiques
Early Georgian Walnut Chest on Stand
£ 1,100
Antique & Decorative
Arts & Crafts Pillar Chest of Drawers - Liberty & Co
£ 940
£ 1,250
Antique & Decorative
Pair of Georgian Revival Bedside Tables c.1930
£ 620
Old Painted Furniture
19th Century Painted Mahogany Bow Front Chest on Chest
£ 695
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
Painted Gustavian Style Commode
£ 875
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
Pair of Gustavian Style Commodes
£ 3,625
Lee Wright Antiques Ltd
Pair of Early 19th Century Walnut Commodes
£ 9,500
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
Gustavian Style Commode
£ 690
Alain Michel Antiques
Mahogany Chest of Drawers - 18th Century
€ 2,700
Clifford & Evans
19th Century Pine Two Drawer Chest on Long Tapering Legs
£ 350
Rawlings Antiques
Victorian Bow Front Chest of Drawers
£ 475
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
Chippendale Style Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 450
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
Walnut Serpentine Chest on Chest
£ 630
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Georgian Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 595
Tony Youll Antiques
18th Century Cabinet on Chest
£ 1,795
Rawlings Antiques
Pair of Mahogany Bedside Chests of Drawers
£ 1,495
Church Street Antiques
George III Mahogany Bow Fronted Chest of Drawers
£ 980
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
Biedermeier Style Birch Commode
£ 720
Martlesham Antiques
Superb Quality 18th Century Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 2,850
Philip Hunt Antiques
Regency Mahogany Bow Chest of Drawers
£ 865
Worboys Antiques
Early 19th Century Painted Chest of Drawers
£ 395
Worboys Antiques
Solid Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 575
Whites Antiques
French Early 19th Century Burr Walnut Commode
£ 2,600
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Victorian Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 595
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Inlaid Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 1,450
Matthew Coles Antiques
Louis XVI Style Tall Chest of Drawers
£ 295
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
Italian Chest of Drawers c.1930
£ 3,950
Salisbury Antiques Centre
Walnut Chest on Chest
£ 3,400
Matthew Coles Antiques
Satin Birch Chest of Drawers
£ 395
Salisbury Antiques Centre
George III Mahogany Chest on Chest
£ 1,750
Avego Antiques and Collectibles
Victorian Scottish Pine Chest of Drawers 6 Drawer
£ 550
Town House Traders Ltd
Antique Walnut Chest on Chest Tallboy
£ 440
Vintage House
Large Antique Yellow Chest of Drawers
£ 495
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
Walnut Louis Philippe Commode
£ 1,560
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.