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 19th Century Mahogany Marble Top Commode
£ 1,245
Old Painted Furniture
Late 18th C Painted Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 545
Warner & Watts Antiques
Antique Burr Walnut Dressing Table / Low Chest of Drawers
£ 460
Marylebone Antiques
Art Deco Burr Walnut Tallboy Chest of Drawers / Cabinet
£ 1,450
Hingstons Antiques
Edwardian Fiddleback Mahogany Wellington Chest
£ 1,275
Marylebone Antiques
Art Deco Sycamore and Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 2,150
Town House Traders Ltd
Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Bow Front Chest Draws
£ 750
JOHNSON and Johnson
George II Walnut Lowboy
£ 2,750
JOHNSON and Johnson
George I Walnut Bachelor's Chest
£ 8,500
Millers Antiques
Scottish Burr Ash Chest of Drawers
£ 990
J and S Antiques
Small Mahogany Georgian Style Bow Fronted Chest of Drawers
£ 425
J and S Antiques
Victorian Mahogany Bow Front Chest of Drawers Lion Head
£ 725
Tony Youll Antiques
Mid 18th Century Country Commode in Walnut
£ 1,650
Daniel Clark Furniture
1920s Pine Coffer – Elizabethan Style
£ 325
Hingstons Antiques
Regency Mahogany Small Bow Front Chest of Drawers
£ 985
Debenham Antiques Ltd
Simulated Birch Hand Painted Chest of Drawers by Gemla Fabrikers
£ 895
Simulated Birch Hand Painted Chest of Drawers by Gemla Fabrikers
£ 895
Debenham Antiques Ltd
J and S Antiques
Warings & Gillow Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 1,875
Timeless Furniture UK
Stag Mahogany Merchants Chest Of Drawers
£ 225
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Antique French Inlaid Marquetry Marble Top Bedside Chests
£ 975
Pinefinders Old Pine Furniture Warehouse
Small Edwardian Pine Chiffonier With 3 Drawers
£ 490
Paul Watson Antiques & Interiors Norfolk
Queen Anne Style Burr Walnut 5 Drawer Chest Circa
£ 500
Queen Anne Style Burr Walnut 5 Drawer Chest Circa
£ 500
Paul Watson Antiques & Interiors Norfolk
Debenham Antiques Ltd
Pair of 19th Century Swedish Hand Painted Chest of Drawers
£ 5,995
Pear Tree Antiques
Burr Walnut Crossbanded Chest of Drawers
£ 695
Worboys Antiques
Solid Oak Chest Of Drawers
£ 475
Worboys Antiques
Burr Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 525
£ 1,950
£ 1,950
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 20th Century Unusual Chest Of Drawers In Mahogany
£ 825
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 19th Century Fine Quality Chest of Drawers in Mahogany
£ 685
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 20th Century Good Quality Chest of Drawers in Oak
£ 495
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Antique Satinwood Bedside Chests
£ 1,650
Founders Antiques
Antique Late Georgian Satin Birch Chest of Drawers c.1810
£ 1,295
Hingstons Antiques
George I Style Mahogany Chest on Stand
£ 1,350
Pinefinders Old Pine Furniture Warehouse
Large Victorian Pine 2 Over 3 Chest Of Drawers
£ 630
Georgian Antiques
Pair of Mid Victorian Mahogany Four-drawer Small Chests of Drawers / Bedside Cabinets
£ 1,350
Pair of Mid Victorian Mahogany Four-drawer Small Chests of Drawers / Bedside Cabinets
£ 1,350
Georgian Antiques
Marylebone Antiques
Antique French Louis XV Marble Top Commode by Jacques Bircklé
£ 14,500
Antique French Louis XV Marble Top Commode by Jacques Bircklé
£ 14,500
Marylebone Antiques
Prior & Willis Antiques
Antique 18th Century Mahogany Tallboy – Chest-on-chest of Drawers
£ 1,956.50
Antique 18th Century Mahogany Tallboy – Chest-on-chest of Drawers
£ 1,956.50
Prior & Willis Antiques
£ 2,290
George III Style Satinwood and Marquetry Inlaid Serpentine Front Chest of Drawers
£ 2,290
Georgian Antiques
Walton House Antiques Ltd
Small Edwardian Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 685
Wilsford Antiques
Secretaire/Writing Cabinet with Display Case
£ 1,200
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.