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
Supersuperb Serpentine Georgian Chest of Drawers of Small Proportions French Painted Bergere Dressing Table
£ 895
Supersuperb Serpentine Georgian Chest of Drawers of Small Proportions French Painted Bergere Dressing Table
£ 895
Fernyhough Antiques Ltd
Marylebone Antiques
Antique Victorian Period Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 885
Stalham Antique Gallery
Very Small 18th Century Dressing Chest with Brushing Slide
£ 625
London City Antiques
Quality Antique George III Mahogany Chest of Drawers with Brushing Slide
£ 2,250
Quality Antique George III Mahogany Chest of Drawers with Brushing Slide
£ 2,250
London City Antiques
William Rand Antiques
Victorian Mahogany Miniature Chest of Drawers - Apprentice Piece
£ 380
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Military Campaign Style Mahogany Bedside Chests
£ 1,250
South Country Antiques
Antique Industrial Bank Of Drawers
£ 255
Town House Traders Ltd
Antique Slim Mahogany Chest Drawers Tallboy
£ 365
D and A Binder LTD
Antique Brass Bound Oak Jeweller’s / Watchmaker’s Cabinet
£ 470
Hingstons Antiques
Jacobean Oak Chest of Drawers with Original Brasses, c.1680
£ 1,375
NP & A SALT ANTIQUES
Large Victorian Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 350
Debenham Antiques Ltd
Mid 19th Century Swedish Carved Elm Chest of Drawers
£ 6,650
Marylebone Antiques
Art Deco Satinwood and Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 1,750
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Art Deco Satinwood and Walnut Bedside Chests
£ 1,250
Hingstons Antiques
Small 19th Century Mahogany Brushing Slide Chest
£ 985
Richie Perrott Antiques
19th-century Swedish Masur Birch Chest of Drawers
£ 1,495
Georgian Antiques
Pair of Mid Victorian Figured Walnut 3 Drawer Bedside Lockers
£ 1,340
Georgian Antiques
Pair of Mid Victorian 4-drawer Mahogany Bedside Lockers
£ 1,250
Martlesham Antiques
Early 19th Century Mahogany Bowfront Chest
£ 1,650
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Antique Mahogany Bedside Chests
£ 1,450
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
A Top Quality Antique / Old Victorian Pine Large Waxed 3 Drawer Chest of Drawers
£ 545
A Top Quality Antique / Old Victorian Pine Large Waxed 3 Drawer Chest of Drawers
£ 545
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
Penderyn Antiques
Antique Satin Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 695
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 20th Century Rustic Satinwood Chest Of Drawers
£ 425
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 20th Century Good Quality Chest Of Drawers In Oak
£ 495
£ 1,090
Chippendale-style, Neat-sized, Serpentine Front Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 1,090
Georgian Antiques
Georgian Antiques
Neat-sized, Inlaid Mahogany Regency-style Chest of Drawers with Greek Key Decoration c.1880
£ 875
Neat-sized, Inlaid Mahogany Regency-style Chest of Drawers with Greek Key Decoration c.1880
£ 875
Georgian Antiques
ActFurniture LTD
Antique 20th Century Low Chest of Drawers in Walnut
£ 425
Sovereign Antiques
BRUSH SLIDE CHEST OF DRAWERS
£ 1,250
FB Antiques
Pair Walnut Bedside Chests
£ 595
Timeless Furniture UK
Vintage Oak Tallboy
£ 295
South Country Antiques
Antique Bank of Drawers
£ 135
Holmes Antiques
Small George II Walnut Chest Of Drawers
£ 3,800
Holmes Antiques
Rare Charles II Walnut & Fruitwood Chest of Drawers
£ 2,500
Millers Antiques
Light Oak Chest of Drawers
£ 680
Merchant House Antiques
19TH CENTURY FRENCH THREE DRAWER DRESSER BASE
£ 2,895
LT Antiques
Georgian Bleached Oak Chest on Chest
£ 2,450
Antique & Decorative
Pair of Campaign Bedside Chest of Drawers
£ 1,180
Daniel Clark Furniture
Very Small Late Victorian Oak Chest - Compact Georgian Style
£ 625
Philip Hunt Antiques
Regency Mahogany Bow Chest of Drawers
£ 895
£ 699
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.