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.
Treehouse Antiques
Charles The Second Oak Sword Chest
£ 595
Millers Antiques
Neat Georgian Bow Chest of Drawers
£ 975
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
A Rare Victorian Antique / Old Pine 6 Drawer Chest of Drawers to Wax / Paint
£ 1,195
A Rare Victorian Antique / Old Pine 6 Drawer Chest of Drawers to Wax / Paint
£ 1,195
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Antique Mahogany Military Campaign Style Chests
£ 1,275
London City Antiques
Pair of Antique Victorian French Quality Kingwood Bedside Cabinets
£ 2,850
Pair of Antique Victorian French Quality Kingwood Bedside Cabinets
£ 2,850
London City Antiques
Harmony Antiques
Louis Philippe Marble Top & Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 595
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
Lovely 48 Drawer Collectors Pine Bank of Drawers to wax / paint
£ 995
Lovely 48 Drawer Collectors Pine Bank of Drawers to wax / paint
£ 995
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
£ 2,650
Camden Antiques
Queen Anne Style Burr Walnut Lowboy
£ 575
Marylebone Antiques
Antique French Marble Top & Marquetry Bombe Commode
£ 1,850
Burgett Langfield
Large French Painted Chest of Drawers
£ 995
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 595
£ 1,375
Sussex Antiques and Interiors
Burr Walnut Bedside Drawers
£ 250
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Victorian Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 595
Town House Traders Ltd
Antique Small Pine Chest Drawers
£ 275
Vintage World
Vintage French Chest of Drawers
£ 369
Fernyhough Antiques Ltd
Fabulous Georgian Mahogany Tallboy Linen Press
£ 1,495
Vintage World
Vintage French Chest of Drawers
£ 369
Vintage World
Vintage French Chest of Drawers
£ 369
London City Antiques
Outstanding Quality Antique George III Figured Mahogany Tall Chest of Five Drawers
£ 2,350
Outstanding Quality Antique George III Figured Mahogany Tall Chest of Five Drawers
£ 2,350
London City Antiques
Marylebone Antiques
Military Campaign Style Chest of Drawers in Yew Wood
£ 1,150
Millers Antiques
Small Oak Georgian Chest of Drawers
£ 675
Planet Antiques
Superb Compact Stylish Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 275
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
Really Pretty Antique Pine 4 Drawer Chest of Drawers to Wax / Paint
£ 895
Really Pretty Antique Pine 4 Drawer Chest of Drawers to Wax / Paint
£ 895
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
Vintage House
Victorian Antique Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 445
London City Antiques
Antique George III Quality Figured Mahogany Inlaid Bow Front Chest of 4 Drawers
£ 1,395
Antique George III Quality Figured Mahogany Inlaid Bow Front Chest of 4 Drawers
£ 1,395
London City Antiques
Walton House Antiques Ltd
George III Country Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 550
Michael Johnson Antiques
Teak Cavalry Campaign Chest Army & Navy C.S.L
£ 3,800
£ 375
FB Antiques
Regency Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 895
Athey Antiques
Mahogany Tallboy / Chest on Chest
£ 1,200
Marylebone Antiques
Burr Walnut Bachelors Chest of Drawers
£ 750
Antique & Decorative
Georgian Small Chest of Drawers
£ 320
Antique & Decorative
Campaign Type Small Chest of Drawers
£ 360
Barnaby's of Battle
Very Large Antique Mahogany Chest of Drawers 1840s
£ 725
Barnaby's of Battle
Small Vintage Painted Filing Chest of Ten Drawers 1940s
£ 245
£ 675
Gildersleve Antiques
Country Made Pine Chest of Five Drawers
£ 395
London City Antiques
Outstanding Quality Antique Victorian Scottish Figured Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 1,585
Outstanding Quality Antique Victorian Scottish Figured Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 1,585
London City Antiques
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.