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.
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Antique Georgian George III Mahogany Bow-front Chest on Chest
£ 1,850
Antique Georgian George III Mahogany Bow-front Chest on Chest
£ 1,850
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Antique 17th Century Oak Jacobean Chest of Drawers
£ 1,500
Antique 17th Century Oak Jacobean Chest of Drawers
£ 1,500
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Rams Head Antiques
Stunning 19th Century Studded Crocodile Leather Military Chest
£ 1,450
Old Painted Furniture
Regency Painted Mahogany Bow Fronted Chest of Drawers
£ 445
Burgett Langfield
Small 19th Century English Simulated Painted Chest Of Drawers
£ 295
The Antique Shop
Antique Burr Walnut Tallboy Chest on Chest of Drawers
£ 685
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
George III Serpentine Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 1,295
George III Serpentine Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 1,295
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
FB Antiques
19th Century Dutch Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 695
Fernyhough Antiques Ltd
Super Quality Burr Walnut Linen Press of Small Proportions
£ 995
FB Antiques
Edwardian Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 595
FB Antiques
Antique Yew Wood Chest
£ 595
FB Antiques
George I Walnut Chest on Stand
£ 1,250
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Vintage Swedish Inlaid Mahogany Bedside Cabinets
£ 695
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
George III Serpentine Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 1,495
George III Serpentine Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 1,495
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Penderyn Antiques
Small Vintage Oak Bombe Style Chest of Drawers
£ 495
Hingstons Antiques
George V Camphor Wood Brass Bound Campaign Chest
£ 965
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Antique Burr Elm Bedside Chests
£ 1,150
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Regency Mahogany Bow Front Chest of Drawers
£ 595
Town House Traders Ltd
Pair Brass Bound Mahogany Military Campaign Style Bedside Chests
£ 650
Pear Tree Antiques
A Victorian Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 385
NP & A SALT ANTIQUES
Really Nice Victorian Mahogany Bow Fronted Chest of Drawers
£ 295
The Antique Shop
Quality Antique Burr Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 995
The Antique Shop
Small Burr Walnut Bedside Chest of Drawers
£ 335
Debenham Antiques Ltd
Pair of Painted 19th Century Swedish Chest of Drawers
£ 6,250
Alain Michel Antiques
Bowfront Chest of Drawers in Mahogany - Early 19th Century
€ 2,400
Penderyn Antiques
Victorian Mahogany Bow Front Chest of Drawers
£ 695
Penderyn Antiques
Antique 19th Century Mahogany Chest of Drawers
£ 795
Hawkins Antiques
Antique Satinwood Painted Bureau / Chest Of Drawers, C.1900
£ 1,600
Georgian Antiques
Inlaid Mahogany Bow Front Sheraton Style Bedside Locker
£ 550
Antique & Decorative
Regency Ebonised Bow Chest Of Drawers
£ 820
Antique & Decorative
French Painted & Gilt Commode
£ 940
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Antique Military Campaign Style Mahogany Bedside Chests
£ 1,500
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
A Regency / Georgian Antique / Old Pine Small Waxed 3 Drawer Chest of Drawers
£ 575
A Regency / Georgian Antique / Old Pine Small Waxed 3 Drawer Chest of Drawers
£ 575
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
A Fabulous Antique / Old Pine Victorian Large Waxed 5 Drawer Chest of Drawers
£ 625
A Fabulous Antique / Old Pine Victorian Large Waxed 5 Drawer Chest of Drawers
£ 625
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
A Cracking Antique / Old Pine Victorian Waxed 4 Drawer Chest of Drawers
£ 395
A Cracking Antique / Old Pine Victorian Waxed 4 Drawer Chest of Drawers
£ 395
D & J Hunt Antiques Ltd
Antique & Decorative
C19th Small Hall Chest Of Drawers
£ 860
Georgian Antiques
Impressive Two-part Camphorwood Secretaire Military Chest
£ 3,500
Town House Traders Ltd
Brass Bound Mahogany Military Campaign Style Chest Draws
£ 395
J and S Antiques
Blyth and Sons Victorian Walnut Chest of Drawers
£ 1,750
Worboys Antiques
Late 19th Century Solid Mahogany Low Chest Of Drawers
£ 595
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.