CHESTS OF DRAWERS - 1860-1930
The period 1860-1930 is not particularly associated with beautiful chests of drawers in the traditional antique collector’s view. Wooden knobs and nasty turned feet are what spring immediately to mind. Unlike the 18th century, where the chest played a decorative role, the chest of drawers was relegated to the bedroom in [...]

CHESTS OF DRAWERS: EARLY PANELLED OAK
About 1650-1730
Oak chest of about 1680, with applied, mitred and geometrical mouldings.
Distinctive, often ornamental, pieces of furniture made by traditional methods. Still produced by provincial and country makers long after more sophisticated walnut-veneered chests were introduced from the Continent in about 1670.
Various combinations of single and double depth drawers, cupboard [...]

CHESTS OF DRAWERS: MAHOGANY
About 1730-1830
Mostly simple, undecorated pieces based on classical proportions and varying more in shape than detail or construction.
Many straight-fronted, others serpentine (often with canted corners) from about 17501800, or bow-fronted, about 1780 onwards. Three or four drawers of graduated depth.
Hepplewhite-style inlaid serpentine chest, about 1800, with ’swept’ feet.
After 1800 a pair of [...]

CHESTS  on turned stands
The distinction between chests on stands and chests which merely had bun feet to support them is that broadly speaking apart from the round holes for the buns at the four corners of the bottom of the chest, the former did not have veneered tops while the latter did. Our ancestors were [...]