Chest of Drawers

The antique chest of drawers as we recognize it today was introduced in the reign of James I during the second half of the 17th century.
It generally had two short above three long drawers, oak being the first choice for English cabinet furniture makers in the 1650’s, followed by walnut. By the mid 18th century bow fronted or serpentine fronted antique chest of drawers appeared, with the slide being added towards the end of the 18th century.
‘BUYER BEWARE’. One of the most useful pieces of furniture is the antique chest of drawers, and one that usually needs considerable restoration, that is hidden from the untrained eye. Buyers always be very aware as to the state of the following; drawer runners, drawer bottoms, general carcass condition, bracket feet, cock beading and the general state of the veneer and polish. More often than not a price paid at auction for that “sweet little antique chest of drawers”, has multiplied many times before leaving the restorers workshop. One of the bread and butter jobs for the gifted restorer was the reduction of size of a large antique chest of drawers to a much smaller antique chest of drawers, therefore increasing the saleability and profit dramatically.