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.
Kernow Furniture
6 Vintage Canto Faux Croc Skin Index Card Filing Drawers
£ 175
Kernow Furniture
Campaign Style Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 1,595
Kernow Furniture
Antique Georgian Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 785
Penderyn Antiques
Antique 19th Century Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 695
£ 1,375
Pair of Mid Victorian Carved Mahogany Small Chest of Drawers / Bedside Lockers
£ 1,375
Georgian Antiques
Georgian Antiques
Pair of Mid Victorian Mahogany Brass-bound, Small Military Chests / Bedside Lockers
£ 1,425
Pair of Mid Victorian Mahogany Brass-bound, Small Military Chests / Bedside Lockers
£ 1,425
Georgian Antiques
Worboys Antiques
Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 395
Georgian Antiques
Pair of Mid Victorian Burr Walnut Small Chest / Bedside Lockers
£ 1,390
LT Antiques
Georgian Mahogany Plan Chest of Drawers
£ 1,450
Worboys Antiques
Small Proportioned Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 395
Sussex Antiques and Interiors
Superb French Macintosh Style Vanity Unit
£ 900
Sussex Antiques and Interiors
Pretty French Bleached Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 795
Tom Scott Antiques
Pair of Concave Bedside Cabinets
£ 895
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Victorian Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 595
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
A Pretty Plank End Victorian Antique Pine Waxed 5 Drawer Chest of Drawers
£ 545
A Pretty Plank End Victorian Antique Pine Waxed 5 Drawer Chest of Drawers
£ 545
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
Marylebone Antiques
Vintage Walnut Sideboard / Chest of Drawers
£ 885
£ 1,249
Millers Antiques
Georgian Mahogany Tallboy Chest 177cm High
£ 950
Georgian Antiques
Fine Quality George III Crossbanded Mahogany Chest on Chest
£ 2,195
Alain Michel Antiques
17th Century Jacobean Oak Chest of Drawers
€ 3,200
Georgian Antiques
Exceptional Quality Pair of Small Victorian Figured Mahogany Chests of Drawers / Bedside Lockers
£ 1,450
Exceptional Quality Pair of Small Victorian Figured Mahogany Chests of Drawers / Bedside Lockers
£ 1,450
Georgian Antiques
Marylebone Antiques
Burr Walnut Chest on Chest of Drawers
£ 1,250
£ 2,750
Antique Bow Front Chest of Drawers, English, Bachelors, Bedroom, Georgian, 1790
£ 2,750
London Fine Ltd
London City Antiques
Superb Quality Antique George III Small Mahogany Chest of 5 Drawers with Brushing Slide
£ 2,650
Superb Quality Antique George III Small Mahogany Chest of 5 Drawers with Brushing Slide
£ 2,650
London City Antiques
Alain Michel Antiques
Small 17th Century Oak Chest of Drawers William & Mary Period
€ 2,700
Beresford Antiques Ltd
Antique Satin Birch Four Height Chest of Drawers c.1870
£ 345
£ 715
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
George III Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 470
Vintage House
Large Victorian Stained Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 545
Unique Antiques By Emma Jade
Outstanding Quality 18th Century Dutch Antique Burr Walnut Bombe Chest of Drawers
£ 1,850
Outstanding Quality 18th Century Dutch Antique Burr Walnut Bombe Chest of Drawers
£ 1,850
Unique Antiques By Emma Jade
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Edwards & Roberts Dutch Marquetry Display Cabinet on Chest
£ 4,500
Edwards & Roberts Dutch Marquetry Display Cabinet on Chest
£ 4,500
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 595
Timeless Furniture UK
Victorian Walnut & Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 300
Timeless Furniture UK
Reproduction Mahogany Bachelors Chest
£ 190
London City Antiques
Antique Victorian Quality Mahogany Wellington Chest of 7 Drawers
£ 1,585
Antique Victorian Quality Mahogany Wellington Chest of 7 Drawers
£ 1,585
London City Antiques
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Burr Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 575
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Antique Military Campaign Style Mahogany Bedside Chests
£ 1,250
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
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.