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.
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
French Mahogany Louis XVI Marble Top Commode
£ 1,620
Worboys Antiques
Narrow Solid Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 495
Timeless Furniture UK
Art Deco Walnut Tallboy
£ 275
£ 685
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Victorian Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 650
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Victorian Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 650
Georgian Antiques
Victorian Satinwood Jewellery Drawers
£ 220
£ 795
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Antique Military Campaign Style Yew Wood Bedside Chests
£ 1,150
Debenham Antiques Ltd
Mid 20th Century Danish Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 1,250
Debenham Antiques Ltd
19th Century Swedish Flame Birch Chest of Drawers
£ 2,250
Rawlings Antiques
Pair of Victorian Bedside Chests of Drawers
£ 895
FB Antiques
Edwardian Flame Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 475
Trade Antiques
Mule Chest Country Oak 1730 with Key
£ 1,650
Penderyn Antiques
Antique 20th Century Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 595
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Bow Front Window Seat Chest
£ 595
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Painted Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 595
Debenham Antiques Ltd
19th Century Burr Walnut Tall Chest of Drawers
£ 2,695
Debenham Antiques Ltd
19th Century Swedish Serpentine Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 2,250
FB Antiques
Pair of William IV Mahogany Bedsides
£ 795
FB Antiques
George III Burr Walnut Chest on Stand
£ 1,500
Rawlings Antiques
Small Georgian Chest of Drawers
£ 675
Debenham Antiques Ltd
Mid 20th Century Scandinavian Birch Filing Cabinet
£ 1,149.75
Debenham Antiques Ltd
Mid 19th Century Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 1,044.75
Debenham Antiques Ltd
Mid 20th Century Swedish Inlaid Elm & Birch Chest of Drawers
£ 1,779.75
Mid 20th Century Swedish Inlaid Elm & Birch Chest of Drawers
£ 1,779.75
Debenham Antiques Ltd
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Victorian Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 695
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 650
Town House Traders Ltd
Quality Pair of Walnut Serpentine Chest Drawers
£ 740
Graham Deakin Antiques
Georgian Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 395
Georgian Antiques
Pair of Late 19th-century Arts and Crafts Neat-sized Ash Chests of Drawers/bedside Lockers
£ 1,290
Pair of Late 19th-century Arts and Crafts Neat-sized Ash Chests of Drawers/bedside Lockers
£ 1,290
Georgian Antiques
Marylebone Antiques
Art Deco Figured Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 1,450
CES Home & Garden Limited
Vintage 1970s Danish Henning Kjaernulf Petit Dresser
£ 515
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Victorian Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 650
Penderyn Antiques
Regency Mahogany Bow Front Chest of Drawers
£ 750
Philip Hunt Antiques
Regency Mahogany Bow Front Chest of Drawers
£ 1,150
Alain Michel Antiques
17th Century Oak Chest of Drawers - England
€ 2,600
Marylebone Antiques
Art Deco Burr Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 1,950
Antiques-Interiors
Inlaid Mahogany Chest Ref H-202
£ 245
Debenham Antiques Ltd
Swedish 19th Century 5 Drawer Chest of Drawers
£ 2,395
Debenham Antiques Ltd
Mid 19th Century Scandinavian Inlaid Elm Chest of Drawers
£ 2,495
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.