Antique Chests/Chests of Drawers
The chest of drawers is one of the most useful and enduring forms of antique furniture. Our dealers offer chests from the 17th century through to the Edwardian era, in oak, mahogany, walnut, satinwood and pine. You'll find tallboys, bow-fronted chests, campaign chests, Wellington chests, mule chests and blanket boxes.
Built with solid timber, hand-cut dovetail joints and quality brasswork, antique chests of drawers deliver storage, style and craftsmanship that modern furniture rarely approaches.
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A George III Mahogany Bow-Fronted Chest Of Drawers
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A Particularly Appealing Mahogany Military Chest
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Small 19thC Mahogany Chest of Drawers
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Antique Georgian Mahogany Chest on Chest / Tall Chest of Drawers
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Antique Georgian Style Bow Front Chest of Drawers Figured Mahogany Brass Handles
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Magnificent Antique George III Mahogany Chest on Chest
Rare Antique 18th Century George III Solid Satinwood Chest of 5 Drawers
Large 18th Century Antique Quality Oak Coffer on Stand
Low Camphor Wood Campaign Chest of Drawers
Victorian Camphor Wood Military Campaign Secretaire Chest
Important Italian Baroque Commode Attributed Grand Ducal Workshops, c.1690–1720
Waring & Gillow Art Deco Burr Walnut Chest of Drawers
Victorian Scottish Flame Mahogany Chest of Drawers | 19th Century Scotch Chest with Barley Twist Columns | Antique Bedroom Dresser Tallboy
Pair of Napoleon III Serpentine Kingwood, Tulipwood & Marquetry Secretaire Chest
19th Century Queen Anne Style Walnut Chest of Drawers
William & Mary Walnut Cabinet on Stand
A Lovely Quality Rosewood Tall Chest Of Drawers
Top Quality Six Drawer French Oak Chest of Drawer
Large 18th Century Mahogany Bank of Drawers
Pair of Victorian Burr Walnut Bedside Chests
George IV Mahogany Chest of Drawers
18th Century Elm Coffer
19th Century Camphor Wood Secretaire Military Chest
George III Burr Walnut Chest of Drawers
George III Burr Walnut Chest of Drawers
Victorian Mahogany Chest of Drawers
Antique Chests of Drawers: A Buyer's Guide
Few pieces of furniture are as universally useful as a chest of drawers. They work in bedrooms, hallways, living rooms and studies. Antique examples offer the added bonus of being beautifully made from solid timber, with joints and construction techniques that have proven themselves over centuries.
Pull drawers out and examine them closely. Hand-cut dovetails, visible on the drawer sides, are a hallmark of quality and age. Machine-cut dovetails, which are perfectly even and uniform, indicate a later date, typically post-1860. Drawer bottoms should be solid timber running front to back, with the grain running side to side on earlier pieces.
Popular Types
Georgian bow-fronted chests in mahogany are classics of English furniture. Their gently curved fronts required skilled cabinet work and they sit beautifully in any setting. Campaign chests, designed for military officers to take on campaign, are distinguished by their flush brass handles and the ability to separate into two halves for transport. They're immensely practical and suit modern interiors perfectly.
Wellington chests, tall and narrow with a locking bar on one side, were originally designed for storing coins, specimens or documents. Today they make superb storage for jewellery, accessories or collections of any kind.
Assessing Condition
Check that drawers slide smoothly and sit squarely in the carcass. A drawer that sticks may simply need its runners waxed, or it may indicate that the chest has been exposed to damp and the timber has swelled. Look at the top surface for excessive ring marks, burns or veneer damage. Most surface marks can be improved with careful restoration, but this should be factored into the price.