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 19th Century Bow Front Chest Of Drawers In Mahogany
£ 895
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 20th Century Chest Of Drawers In Mahogany
£ 425
Antique Furniture Direct
Victorian Rosewood Secretaire Wellington Chest
£ 895
Penderyn Antiques
Antique 19th Century Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 650
Philip Hunt Antiques
William IV Mahogany Bow Chest of Drawers
£ 1,095
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Wellington Chest of Drawers
£ 1,675
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Victorian Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 990
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Edwardian Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 650
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Victorian Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 650
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
A Superb Victorian Antique Pine Waxed 5 Drawer Chest of Drawers
£ 545
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
A Cracking Narrow Victorian Antique Pine Waxed 5 Drawer Chest of Drawers
£ 625
A Cracking Narrow Victorian Antique Pine Waxed 5 Drawer Chest of Drawers
£ 625
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
Quality Tall Victorian Antique Pine Waxed 5 Drawer Chest of Drawers
£ 625
Quality Tall Victorian Antique Pine Waxed 5 Drawer Chest of Drawers
£ 625
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
A Fantastic Large Victorian Antique Pine Waxed 5 Drawer Chest of Drawers
£ 545
A Fantastic Large Victorian Antique Pine Waxed 5 Drawer Chest of Drawers
£ 545
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
Marylebone Antiques
Burr Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 395
Vintage House
Black and Wood Bow Front Chest of Drawers
£ 295
Kernow Furniture
Victorian Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 595
Kernow Furniture
Antique Victorian Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 345
Timeless Furniture UK
Victorian Mahogany Bow Fronted Chest
£ 400
FB Antiques
Regency Mahogany Bow Front Chest
£ 595
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 18th Century Small Bow Front Chest Of Drawe
£ 650
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 695
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 18th Century Bow Front Chest of Drawers in Mahogany
£ 525
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 17th Century Jacobean Chest Of Drawer’s In Oak
£ 1,950
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 19th Century Chest Of Drawers In Mahogany
£ 550
Millers Antiques
Georgian Oak Chest of Drawers Dated Around 1780
£ 675
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Figured Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 990
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Antique Georgian Style Burr Walnut Bedside Chests
£ 975
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 18th Century Chest Of Drawers In Mahogany
£ 625
Driscolls Antiques Ltd
Quality Small Bow Fronted Antique Chest with Brushing Slide
£ 795
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
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.