English Victorian and Edwardian Chests of Drawers
ENGLISH CHESTS OF DRAWERS: VICTORIAN AND EDWARDIAN
About 1840-1915
Huge numbers of very simple chests were produced, in a wide range of qualities; a few followed fashionable styles in their decoration. After about 1860 they often formed part of a suite -chest, wash-stand, wardrobe and chair.
Early-Victorian bow-fronted chest of drawers, still of Hepplewhite type, but with coarse-grained veneers and large wooden knob handles.
Usually two short drawers above three long, but can be taller, with five or six drawers. Bow-fronted were most popular until about 1860, thereafter straight fronts were more common. The majority have turned bun feet-longer and less spherical than previously -otherwise bracket feet, or a continuous plinth.
Overhanging top; curved or flat-edged when veneered, moulded when solid (usually thumb or ovolo). Drawers flush with carcase, with almost flat cockbeading around edge. Until end of century all drawers fitted with locks (usually Bramah after 1846).
Around 1800, chests were sometimes combined with wash-stand or with dressing-table.
Predominantly mahogany followed by walnut; occasionally satinwood, rosewood, maple, ash, oak. Sometimes solid, mostly veneered on pine or, on better quality pieces, cheap Honduras mahogany. Pine when stained to resemble other woods, or when painted.
Use of machinery widespread by this period, seen in even saw marks on timber, very thin veneers (about 1/16th inch/1.5 mm) and regularly shaped and cut dovetails. On best pieces dovetails are fine, almost pointed.
Base of larger drawers comprises two panels with central batten (or muntin) supported at sides on runners and held down with narrow quarter mouldings (this feature replaced rebates around 1830). On best quality examples, back of drawer is sometimes fixed to base with three countersunk screws in gouged-out slots. Drawer linings are occasionally lightly polished.
Knobs fixed in V2 inch/cm diameter holes with screw-turned dowel, or shank glued into threaded hole. Sometimes just dowelled and glued, others fixed with metal bolt.
Many very poor quality chests were mass-produced in East End of London using cheap, knotty, improperly seasoned woods and poor quality glues, resulting in lifting of veneers.
Some restrained carving or inlay when in a specific style, otherwise plain, relying only on figured (often burr) veneers.
Handles: Large turned wood knobs from about 1825; white porcelain knobs on painted chests from about 1870. Brass handles re-introduced where style demanded.
French polish; sometimes stained to produce a reddish colour beforehand. Stain and varnish used to simulate quality timbers, particularly on cheap servants’ furniture. Paint popular towards 1900: typically white or green.
VALUES
Prices very variable, closely related to quality of construction and choice of veneers. The majority still in three figures, the best in four. Pine still the cheapest buy.
Tags: bun feet, chest of drawers, Chests, DRAWERS, dressing table, EDWARDIAN, furniture, Hepplewhite, honduras mahogany, mahogany, satinwood, value, veneers, VICTORIAN, walnut, wardrobe