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.
Antique George III 1790 Mahogany & Brass Chest Of 5 Drawers By J Moorcroft
Georgian Mahogany Bow Fronted Chest of Drawers
Antique Scottish Victorian Flame Mahogany Chest Of 4 Drawers With Wooden Handles
Small Early 17th Century Oak Coffer
Small 18th Century Mahogany Chest Of Drawers
Fine Early 18th Century Walnut Chest On Stand
Antique 19th Century French Flame Mahogany & Brass Handled Marble Topped Commode
Antique Georgian Mahogany Chest Of 5 Drawers With Brass Handles & Bracket Feet
18th Century Inlaid Oak Chest Of Drawers
17th Century Oak Plank Coffer
18th Century Mahogany Dressing Chest With Fitted Drawer
Early 18th Century Oak Chest On Stand
Regency Mahogany Secretaire Chest of Drawers
Pair French Bedside Lamp Chests of Drawers
16th Century Oak Coffer
Fine Early 18th Century Walnut Bachelors Chest
17th Century Geometric Chest Of Drawers
17th Century Oak Coffer
A Rare 17th Century Oak Coffer
17th Century North Country Coffer
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.