Mid 18th Century Chests of Drawers
CHESTS OF DRAWERS, 1710-1760
To many collectors not the favourite form of walnut top moulding but at 3ft. wide and with a brushing slide and good colour it can command a very substantial price. Note that the handles are not original for the marks left by the previous late eighteenth century oval plates can still be seen. A small example, say 2ft. 6ins., with glorious golden colour, could be double this price. c. 1730
A walnut chest with later walnut period features, i.e. inlaid stringing lines in boxwood, no crossbanding on the drawers, and a small double lip moulding around the drawers.
Although there are three small top drawers and the top is not quartered, this is a lower quality chest of the later walnut period. Usually the three top drawers indicate that the piece has been on a stand or lower chest, but in this case the veneered top could be an indication that this was not necessarily so. 1730-1750
This is a walnut chest which was originally mounted on a larger chest (see Chests on Chests section). It has
all the characteristics of a ‘top half’,
i.e. three small top drawers, canted reeded corners, heavy top moulding, new bracket feet and a new top surface. (The original top would have been left unveneered as it would be above eye level.)
1725-1740
Colour is a more important factor in determining value than original quality of construction.
The square solid character of the very early eighteenth century chest is well illustrated in this panel sided oak piece with double-D moulding round the drawers and thick top mouldings. c. 1720
A walnut chest of country make with a higher and narrower proportion than earlier examples. Plain thick veneers with simple half herring-bone crossbanding (or diagonal crossbanding). Made on into the later part of the century. 1740-1760
Obviously the bottom half of a chest on chest. Tell-tale signs are the sunburst on the bottom drawer, the three long drawers of almost equal depth, the low proportions and the new top. c. 1730
The end of the walnut era. Broad mouldings which soon refined down to the typical Chippendale type, no cross-banding, just a line of contrasting walnut where the herringbone would originally have been and a form of cockbeading which, instead of being round the drawers, is on the carcase. A trifle too high. c. 1740
A simpler veneered walnut bachelor’s chest, with cock-beaded drawers, on the more standard bracket feet. The handles are not original.
Tags: bottom drawer, boxwood, Chests, chests of drawers, drawer, example, inlaid, period, surface, top drawers, value, veneers