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
Large Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 895
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
William IV Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 550
Fernyhough Antiques Ltd
Outstanding Georgian Bowed Chest of Drawers
£ 995
Marylebone Antiques
Art Deco Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 495
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
Small Victorian Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 320
Georgian Antiques
George II Style Burr Walnut Chest on Stand c.1910
£ 1,190
Penderyn Antiques
Antique 19th Century Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 695
£ 1,375
Pair of Small Victorian Figured Mahogany Chest of Drawers or Bedside Lockers
£ 1,375
Georgian Antiques
Old Painted Furniture
Regency Painted Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 435
Marylebone Antiques
Vintage Walnut Chest of Drawers by Vesper
£ 845
£ 899
FB Antiques
Regency Mahogany Bow Front Chest of Drawers
£ 795
Marylebone Antiques
Art Deco Walnut Chest of Drawers by Heal’s
£ 1,450
FB Antiques
Pair of Walnut Chests with Slides
£ 695
Georgian Antiques
Mahogany Bow-fronted Chest of Drawers
£ 1,150
£ 835
FB Antiques
George I Figured Walnut Chest on Stand
£ 3,950
FB Antiques
Pair of Victorian Burr Walnut Bedsides
£ 695
Town House Traders Ltd
Quality Figured Walnut Chest Drawers by Waring & Gillow
£ 375
Kernow Furniture
Antique Style Mahogany Tallboy
£ 1,845
Town House Traders Ltd
Antique Slim Burr Walnut Bow Front Chest on Chest Tallboy
£ 350
Lee Wright Antiques Ltd
17th Century English Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 2,250
London City Antiques
Unusual Antique 19th Century Victorian Miniature Quality Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 1,485
Unusual Antique 19th Century Victorian Miniature Quality Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 1,485
London City Antiques
Prior & Willis Antiques
Antique Large 19th Century Georgian Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 645
Pinefinders Old Pine Furniture Warehouse
Georgian 2 Over 3 Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 620
£ 1,290
Pair of Mid Victorian Neat Size Mahogany Chest of Drawers / Bedside Lockers
£ 1,290
Georgian Antiques
FB Antiques
William & Mary Oyster Veneer Chest on Stand
£ 4,750
£ 980
George III Style Neat-sized, Serpentine-fronted, Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 980
Georgian Antiques
Camden Antiques
Pair of Victorian Bedside Chests
£ 875
Town House Traders Ltd
Figured Walnut Wellington Chest
£ 485
Rettendon Antiques
Pair of Walnut Chests with Slides
£ 675
Harry Raine Antiques
French Cherry Louis XV Style Chest of Drawers
£ 325
Pinefinders Old Pine Furniture Warehouse
Large Victorian Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 600
Harry Raine Antiques
George III Style Mahogany Serpentine Chest of Drawers
£ 340
Barnaby's of Battle
Antique Mahogany Large Chest of Drawers 1900s
£ 350
The Vintage Interiors
Pair of French Oak Bedside Cabinets
£ 695
Tony Youll Antiques
French Restoration Walnut Commode
£ 1,350
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
Small Carved Ipswich Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 370
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Georgian Period Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 975
Old Painted Furniture
Regency Painted Mahogany Gentleman's Bow Chest of Drawers
£ 695
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.