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.
Fernyhough Antiques Ltd
Top Quality Pair French Bedside Lamp Chests of Drawers
£ 895
LT Antiques
Pair of Victorian Mahogany Bedside Chests
£ 1,150
Lee Wright Antiques Ltd
Pair of 19th Century Italian Burr Walnut Commodes
£ 9,500
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Mahogany Military Campaign Chest of Drawers
£ 1,525
Warner & Watts Antiques
Continental Victorian Figured Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 395
Rawlings Antiques
Pair of Victorian Bedside Chests of Drawers
£ 895
Hawkins Antiques
Antique French Kingwood Vernis Martin Commode / Side Cabinet
£ 3,500
Georgian Antiques
Mahogany Two Part Military Chest of Drawer
£ 2,650
Richie Perrott Antiques
A 19th-century Swedish Concave Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 1,200
Timeless Furniture UK
Vintage Oriental Style Five Drawer Chest Decorated with Birds
£ 275
Timeless Furniture UK
Lebus Mid Century Six Drawer Bedroom Chest
£ 265
£ 2,950
Rare Italian Fruitwood, Free-standing Low Six-drawer Cabinet with Poker Work
£ 2,950
Georgian Antiques
Georgian Antiques
Inlaid George III Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 1,390
Barnaby's of Battle
Mid Century Architect's Drawers Plan Chest 1970s
£ 625
Tony Youll Antiques
Tall Regency Chest of Drawers
£ 800
Richie Perrott Antiques
19th Century Swedish Chest of Drawers
£ 1,200
Cloverleaf Home Interiors
Bureau Rare Miniature Apprentice George III c.1800
£ 285
The Antique Shop
Mahogany Georgian Style Serpentine Chest of Drawers
£ 595
FB Antiques
George III Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 1,195
Debenham Antiques Ltd
Swedish 19th Century Birch Chest of Drawers
£ 1,995
Georgian Antiques
George 2nd Style, Neat-sized Burr Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 975
Salisbury Antiques Centre
George III Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 700
Salisbury Antiques Centre
Charles II Oak 2 Part Chest
£ 1,250
Georgian Antiques
Miniature Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 475
Debenham Antiques Ltd
Swedish 19th Century Tiger Birch Chest of Drawers
£ 2,650
Salisbury Antiques Centre
Walnut Wellington Chest
£ 830
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Victorian Marquetry Specimen Apprentice Chest of Drawers
£ 495
Victorian Marquetry Specimen Apprentice Chest of Drawers
£ 495
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Georgian Chest of Drawers
£ 650
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Early 19th Century Mahogany Bow Front Chest of Drawers
£ 650
Hawkins Antiques
ANTIQUE FRENCH MARBLE TOP VERNIS MARTIN PAINTED COMMODE / CHEST
£ 3,250
Debenham Antiques Ltd
19th Century Empire Revival Birch Chest of Drawers
£ 1,995
Georgian Antiques
Inlaid George III Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 1,390
FB Antiques
Large 19th Century Walnut Two Section Chest
£ 575
Antique & Modern Living
A George III Serpentine Chest Of Drawers
£ 2,850
London City Antiques
Superb Quality Antique Victorian Quality Figured Mahogany Chest of Three Drawers
£ 1,295
Superb Quality Antique Victorian Quality Figured Mahogany Chest of Three Drawers
£ 1,295
London City Antiques
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
A Super Victorian Antique Pine Waxed 4 Drawer Small Chest of Drawers
£ 425
A Super Victorian Antique Pine Waxed 4 Drawer Small Chest of Drawers
£ 425
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
A Mint Clean Victorian Antique Pine Bakelite Waxed 5 Drawer Chest of Drawers
£ 645
A Mint Clean Victorian Antique Pine Bakelite Waxed 5 Drawer Chest of Drawers
£ 645
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
A Cracking Victorian Antique Pine Small Waxed 4 Drawer Chest of Drawers
£ 425
A Cracking Victorian Antique Pine Small Waxed 4 Drawer Chest of Drawers
£ 425
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
A Huge Victorian Antique Pine Waxed Rounded 5 Drawer Chest of Drawers
£ 695
A Huge Victorian Antique Pine Waxed Rounded 5 Drawer Chest of Drawers
£ 695
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
Marylebone Antiques
Art Deco Walnut Chest of Drawers by Hamptons of Pall Mall
£ 1,295
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.