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.
Town House Traders Ltd
Quality Mahogany 5 Height Chest of Drawers
£ 395
London City Antiques
Outstanding Quality Antique Victorian Figured Mahogany Serpentine Shaped Chest of Drawers
£ 3,450
Outstanding Quality Antique Victorian Figured Mahogany Serpentine Shaped Chest of Drawers
£ 3,450
London City Antiques
Victoria Antiques
Quality 19th Century Mahogany Chest of 4 Long Drawers
£ 495
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
Unusual Design Light Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 660
Camden Antiques
Victorian Flame Mahogany Scottish Chest of Drawers
£ 1,250
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
Low Bank of Deep Mahogany Drawers
£ 1,020
Worboys Antiques
Small Proportioned Burr Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 325
Central Shipping and Trading Ltd
Antique Holland & Sons Chest of Drawers
£ 985
Wick Antiques Ltd
Anglo Chinese Padouk Campaign Chest of Drawers 1868
£ 14,500
Alain Michel Antiques
Small Italian Walnut Chest of Drawers - 17th Century
€ 2,200
Pear Tree Antiques
Early Georgian Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 595
The Old Pine Shop
Fabulous 'Chunky' Old Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 549
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Antique Yew Wood Military Campaign Bedside Chests
£ 1,250
William Rand Antiques
Quality Victorian Burr Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 3,300
Lee Wright Antiques Ltd
Pair of 19th Century Italian Walnut Commodes
£ 8,500
London City Antiques
Unusual Antique Victorian Quality Burr Walnut Chest on Stand
£ 1,585
Lee Wright Antiques Ltd
Pair of Italian Rosewood Inlaid 'Empire' Commodes c.1820
£ 14,500
London City Antiques
Antique French Quality Kingwood Inlaid Marquetry Marble Top Commode / Chest of Drawers
£ 1,685
Antique French Quality Kingwood Inlaid Marquetry Marble Top Commode / Chest of Drawers
£ 1,685
London City Antiques
London City Antiques
Antique George III Quality Figured Mahogany Chest of 4 Drawers
£ 1,365
Rawlings Antiques
18th Century Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 395
London City Antiques
Antique George I Quality Figured Walnut Two Part Chest of Five Drawers
£ 1,885
Antique George I Quality Figured Walnut Two Part Chest of Five Drawers
£ 1,885
London City Antiques
Prior & Willis Antiques
Antique Fine Quality Small Caddy Top Mahogany Chest of Drawers c.1920
£ 1,295
Antique Fine Quality Small Caddy Top Mahogany Chest of Drawers c.1920
£ 1,295
Prior & Willis Antiques
Prior & Willis Antiques
Antique Fine Quality Small 19th Century Caddy Top Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 1,895
Antique Fine Quality Small 19th Century Caddy Top Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 1,895
Prior & Willis Antiques
The Antique Shop
Small Antique Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 465
London City Antiques
Antique George III Figured Mahogany Chest on Chest
£ 3,950
Prior & Willis Antiques
Antique Fine Quality 18th Century Figured Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 3,995
Antique Fine Quality 18th Century Figured Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 3,995
Prior & Willis Antiques
Prior & Willis Antiques
Antique Fine Quality 18th Century Burr Walnut Tallboy Chest on Chest of Drawers
£ 6,995
Antique Fine Quality 18th Century Burr Walnut Tallboy Chest on Chest of Drawers
£ 6,995
Prior & Willis Antiques
The Antique Shop
Walnut Bedside Cabinet Chest of Drawers
£ 265
London City Antiques
Antique George III Quality Figured Mahogany Bow Front Chest of 5 Drawers
£ 1,385
Antique George III Quality Figured Mahogany Bow Front Chest of 5 Drawers
£ 1,385
London City Antiques
London City Antiques
Antique French Quality Burr Walnut Marble Top Ormolu Mounted Commode / Chest of Drawers
£ 2,950
Antique French Quality Burr Walnut Marble Top Ormolu Mounted Commode / Chest of Drawers
£ 2,950
London City Antiques
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Georgian Inlaid Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 750
Old Painted Furniture
Early 19th Century Painted Mahogany Bow Front Chest of Drawers
£ 425
Sussex Antiques and Interiors
French Early 19th Century Commode Chest of Drawers
£ 900
Sunnyside Antiques
Mahogany Chest on Chest c.1850
£ 1,950
£ 735
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
19th Century Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 480
Graham Smith Antiques Ltd
18th Century Mahogany Inlaid Chest
£ 1,095
£ 895
£ 385
NP & A SALT ANTIQUES
A Lovely Georgian Bow Fronted Chest of Drawers
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.