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.
Holmes Antiques
Early 18th Century Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 1,600
Thakeham Furniture ltd
Magnificent Georgian Mahogany Serpentine Chest of Drawers
£ 5,400
Salisbury Antiques Centre
Mid 19th Century Mahogany 2 Part Campaign Chest
£ 1,850
Marylebone Antiques
Antique French Inlaid Marquetry Marble Top Bombe Commode
£ 1,375
Penderyn Antiques
Stripped Pine Bank of Drawers
£ 695
Camden Antiques
Burr Walnut Serpentine Chest of c.1910
£ 625
Town House Traders Ltd
Antique Oak Cutlery Collectors Chest
£ 135
Alain Michel Antiques
19th Century Miniature Chest of Drawers
€ 650
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 595
Tom Scott Antiques
18th Century Italian Serpentine Commode
£ 1,650
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 19th Century Chest of Drawers in Mahogany
£ 395
Thakeham Furniture ltd
18th Century French Provincial Cherrywood Commode
£ 3,250
Tom Scott Antiques
Small Georgian Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 595
London City Antiques
Antique George III Quality Figured Mahogany Inlaid Chest of 6 Drawers
£ 1,785
Antique George III Quality Figured Mahogany Inlaid Chest of 6 Drawers
£ 1,785
London City Antiques
Georgian Antiques
Figured Mahogany Whytock & Reid Chest of Drawers
£ 1,900
Fernyhough Antiques Ltd
Fine Victorian Mahogany Tall Chest of Drawers
£ 1,295
Town House Traders Ltd
Antique Walnut Serpentine Chest of Drawers
£ 240
LT Antiques
Large Georgian Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 795
Alain Michel Antiques
Mahogany Bowfront Chest of Drawers - 19th Century
€ 1,900
Pinefinders Old Pine Furniture Warehouse
Small Early Victorian Pine 2 Over 3 Chest of Drawers with Porcelain Knobs
£ 390
Small Early Victorian Pine 2 Over 3 Chest of Drawers with Porcelain Knobs
£ 390
Pinefinders Old Pine Furniture Warehouse
£ 395
Vintage House
Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 295
Antique & Modern Living
An Elegant Georgian Bow-front Chest
£ 1,750
Vintage House
Painted French Dark Teal Blue Chest of Drawers
£ 295
Vintage House
Small Teal Blue Chest of Drawers
£ 175
Salisbury Antiques Centre
Low String Inlaid Mahogany Bow Fronted Chest of Drawers
£ 875
Town House Traders Ltd
Antique Serpentine Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 350
Debenham Antiques Ltd
Mid 20th Century Scandinavian Patterned Birch Chest of Drawers
£ 1,450
Mid 20th Century Scandinavian Patterned Birch Chest of Drawers
£ 1,450
Debenham Antiques Ltd
Joseph Riley Furniture
Art & Crafts Limed Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 595
Penderyn Antiques
Small Antique Bachelor's Chest of Drawers
£ 695
Debenham Antiques Ltd
Mid 20th Century Danish Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 1,250
Debenham Antiques Ltd
Large 19th Century Baroque Revival Danish Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 2,650
Large 19th Century Baroque Revival Danish Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 2,650
Debenham Antiques Ltd
Merchant House Antiques
Small Lacquered Chest of Drawers / Commode
£ 695
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 18th Century Chest of Drawers in Mahogany
£ 425
JMR Antiques Ltd
Georgian Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 695
Georgian Antiques
Chippendale Period Chest of Drawers
£ 2,150
Georgian Antiques
Quality George III Mahogany Tall Boy
£ 3,300
Thakeham Furniture ltd
Wonderful Small William & Mary Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 3,800
D and A Binder LTD
1920s Clarks Cotton Drawers
£ 600
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 19th Century Inlaid Chest of Drawers in Mahogany
£ 350
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.