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.
Antiques & Chic
Oak Plan Chest 1920s
£ 725
Oakfield Gallery
Georgian Mahogany Chest of Drawers with Slide c.1790
£ 940
Antiques & Chic
Globe Wernicke Bank of Drawers
£ 725
LT Antiques
Art Deco Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 675
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 19th Century Chest of Drawers in Mahogany
£ 495
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 18th Century Unusual Size Chest on Chest in Oak
£ 1,585
Old Painted Furniture
Late 17th Century Painted Country Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 465
Oakfield Gallery
Victorian Mahogany Pair of Bedside Chests c.1890
£ 725
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 19th Century Chest of Drawers in Mahogany
£ 425
Tony Youll Antiques
18th Century Burr Walnut Commode
£ 1,575
Gildersleve Antiques
Small Pine Chest Of Three Long Drawers
£ 325
Church Street Antiques
19thc French Empire Marquetry Kingwood Bedside Cabinet
£ 980
Gildersleve Antiques
Five Drawer Pine Chest
£ 385
Penderyn Antiques
Antique George III Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 695
Wick Antiques Ltd
Early Victorian Satinwood Wellington Chest
£ 5,400
Daniel Clark Furniture
Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 495
Billy Hunt
Modernist Oak 3 Drawer Tallboy Cabinet
£ 435
London City Antiques
Antique Georgian 18th Century Mahogany Chest on Chest/Tallboy
£ 5,995
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Mahogany Bow Front Chest of Drawers
£ 695
Salisbury Antiques Centre
19th Century Walnut Collectors Cabinet
£ 1,200
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
Early 19th Century Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 720
Marylebone Antiques
Burr Walnut Chest on Chest of Drawers
£ 775
Mersham Manor Antiques
Superb Georgian Satinwood Inlaid Commode Chest of Drawers
£ 1,295
Barnaby's of Battle
Large Antique Painted Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 325
Tom Scott Antiques
French Two Drawer Chest of Drawers
£ 595
LT Antiques
Slim Walnut Office Chest of Drawers
£ 695
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Antique Stripped Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 350
JMR Antiques Ltd
English Georgian Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 695
Alain Michel Antiques
Mahogany Marine / Campaign Chest of Drawers of a Cruise Liner
€ 1,350
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
Plan Chest of Drawers c.1920
£ 780
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Mahogany Bow Front Chest of Drawers
£ 695
Kernow Furniture
Antique Georgian Mahogany Chest on Chest
£ 1,395
Fernyhough Antiques Ltd
Georgian Mahogany Tall Chest of Drawers
£ 1,495
Worboys Antiques
French Painted Chest of Drawers
£ 435
Worboys Antiques
Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 375
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Pine Chest of Drawers
£ 650
£ 535
London City Antiques
Antique Quality French Parquetry Marble Top Commode Chest of Drawers
£ 4,500
Antique Quality French Parquetry Marble Top Commode Chest of Drawers
£ 4,500
London City Antiques
Walton House Antiques Ltd
Mid 18th Century Mahogany Carved Chest on Chest
£ 3,800
£ 415
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.