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.
Matthew Coles Antiques
Dutch Marquetry Bombe Chest of Drawers
£ 825
Beresford Antiques Ltd
George III Oak Chest on Chest
£ 1,295
Beresford Antiques Ltd
C19th Small Flame Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 395
Trade Antiques
Edwards and Roberts Gentleman's Dressing Chest 1780
£ 3,350
Hingstons Antiques
Victorian Secretaire Campaign Chest
£ 2,750
Millers Antiques
Scottish Satin Birch Chest of Drawers
£ 1,250
London City Antiques
Antique George III Quality Mahogany Chest on Chest
£ 2,875
Daniel Clark Furniture
Pine Victorian Painted Chest of Drawers
£ 395
Rawlings Antiques
Victorian Bow Front Chest of Drawers
£ 395
Planet Antiques
French Secretaire à Abattant Simply Stunning
£ 799
Treehouse Antiques
Antique Miitary Campaign Chest of Drawers
£ 2,250
The Antique Shop
Burr Walnut Bow Front Tallboy Chest on Chest
£ 625
Campbell Vintage
19th Century Pitch Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 860
The Antique Shop
Antique Georgian Style Bow Front Chest of Drawers
£ 585
London City Antiques
Antique 18th Century Quality Parquetry Inlaid Serpentine Shaped Marble Top Commode Chest
£ 1,850
Antique 18th Century Quality Parquetry Inlaid Serpentine Shaped Marble Top Commode Chest
£ 1,850
London City Antiques
The Antique Shop
Antique Small Figured Walnut Serpentine Chest of Drawers
£ 485
£ 4,850
19th Century Decorative Chinoiserie French Marble Topped Bombe Commode
£ 4,850
Loveday Antiques
The Antique Shop
Small Antique Serpentine Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 425
Gildersleve Antiques
Primitive Chest of Drawers
£ 225
Planet Antiques
Victorian Welsh Pine Crackled Paint Chest of Drawers
£ 325
Millers Antiques
Small Chest of Drawers
£ 460
Sussex Antiques and Interiors
Stunning Quality 19th Century Burr Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 1,950
Stunning Quality 19th Century Burr Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 1,950
Sussex Antiques and Interiors
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Mahogany Military Campaign Style Bedside Chests
£ 1,525
Marylebone Antiques
Georgian Style Burr Walnut Bow Front Chest of Drawers
£ 595
The Antique Shop
Small Bow Front Burr Walnut Bedside Chest Drawers
£ 375
Town House Traders Ltd
Mahogany 14 Drawer Collectors Chest Drawers
£ 280
LT Antiques
Georgian Mahogany Artists Plan Chest
£ 1,650
Town House Traders Ltd
Antique Mahogany 3 Drawer Bedside Chest Drawers
£ 175
Marylebone Antiques
Art Deco Figured Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 1,650
Lascombe Interiors
Antique Victorian Rosewood Wellington Chest
£ 2,495
Millers Antiques
19th Century Painted Chest of Drawers
£ 850
LT Antiques
Large Walnut Serpentine Shaped Chest
£ 1,650
£ 485
£ 685
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Edwards & Roberts Dutch Marquetry Display Cabinet on Chest
£ 3,495
Edwards & Roberts Dutch Marquetry Display Cabinet on Chest
£ 3,495
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Barnaby's of Battle
Vintage Haberdasher's Display Drawers 1950s
£ 950
FB Antiques
Pair of Edwardian Mahogany Bedside Chests
£ 695
Witch Antiques
Victorian Burr Walnut Chest
£ 1,350
FB Antiques
Pair of Victorian Mahogany Bedside Chests
£ 795
Philip Hunt Antiques
Impressive Louis XVI Style Commode
£ 2,950
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.