Antique Chest Of Drawers

A William and Mary small oak Refectory Table, Charles II oak Chairs, A Charles II oak Joint Stool, A 17th Century-style draw-leaf Refectory Table

A William and Mary small oak Refectory Table, circa 1690, the associated detachable top above square baluster turned legs joined by peripheral stretchers, altered and restored,

4 by 140cm.; 2ft. 5in. by 4ft. 7in.

A Queen Anne oak Bureau, circa 1710, the later top above a fall enclosing a stepped and fitted interior with a well, below are two short and two long drawers, on later shaped

bracket feet, 97cm. high by 83cm. wide; 3ft. 2in. by
2ft. 82in.

A William and Mary-style beech
Armchair, made-up, with pierced scroll
cresting rail and cane splat, the cane seat
with a floral cushion, the square and
turned legs joined by stretchers.

A George IV ash and elm
spindle-back child’s Armchair, circa
1825, with projecting wings and stuffed
seat, the turned legs joined by stretchers.

A George II child’s oak Mule
Chest, circa 1740, with hinged cover, the
E plinth base with two drawers, on shaped
racket feet, one drawer with distressed
floor, 44cm. high by 70cm. wide;

A set of four Charles II oak
Chairs, circa 1680, the later carved backs
with fielded rectangular panels, the solid
seats above square and turned legs
joined by stretchers, cresting rail faults

A William and Mary oak oval
Gate leg Table, circa 1690, the shaped
apron with a drawer, the square and
turned legs joined by stretchers, on
knurled feet, 90 by 98cm.; 2ft. by
3ft. 22in.

A Queen Anne walnut Stool,
made-up, the rectangular stuffed seat
covered in rose-pink dragon, on cabriole
legs and pad feet, 51cm. wide;  8in.

A Charles II child’s oak boarded
Chest, circa 1680, with steel escutcheon
and hasp, 70cm. wide; 2ft.

A Charles II oak Joint Stool, circa
1680, the square and turned legs joined
by stretchers, 46cm. wide;  6in.;
together with a Charles II-style oak Joint
Stool, made-up, the square and baluster
turned legs joined by stretchers, 43cm.
wide;  5in.

A Commonwealth oak Press
Cupboard, circa 1650, with projecting
carved frieze and turned pendants,
above a pair of doors and carved panel,
below are two drawers and a pair of
multi-paneled doors, on stem feet,
altered and restored, 183cm. high by 142cm.
wide; 5ft. 4in. by 4ft. 8in.

A 17th Century-style draw-leaf
Refectory Table, made-up, the bulbous
turned legs joined by
stretcher, on bun feet, 86cm. by z62cm.
fully extended; 2ft.  by 8ft. 7in.

A Charles II oak Coffer, circa 1680, the later hinged top above a carved front, with tipple panels and stem feet, 120cm. wide; 3ft.

A Charles II oak Coffer, circa 1680, with lunette carved frieze above triple panels and lozenge motifs, on stem feet, restored, 114cm. wide; 3ft. 9in.

A 17th Century-style carved oak Press Cupboard, made-up, the upper section with hinged cover and four paneled doors, below are a larger pair of multi-paneled doors, 168cm. high,

by 170cm. wide; 5ft. 6in. by 5ft. 7in.

A George III oak Bureau, circa
1770, the cleared fall revealing a later
fitted interior, below are two snort and
three long graduated drawers, on later
shaped bracket feet, 109cm. high by 92cm.
wide; 3ft. 7in. by 3ft.

A Charles II oak Coffer, circa 1680, with guilloche carved frieze and terminals, the hinged and paneled cover above a triple-paneled front, 133cm. wide; 4ft. 4m.

An Italian 17th Century-style carved walnut Armchair, circa 1880, the paneled back with heraldic cresting, the splat carved with arabesques and plaque titled Siena, the

guilloche scroll arms above a solid seat, the turned and fluted tapering legs joined by an ‘H’-shaped stretcher.

Crest reputed to be that of the Duke of Orson

A Charles II oak Joint Stool, circa
1680, with scroll apron, the square and
turned legs joined by stretchers.

A Queen Anne walnut
Escritoire-on-Chest, circa 1710, inlaid
with feather-banding, the cushion frieze
drawer above the fail with segmented
veneers, revealing an inset and an
arrangement of drawers and
pigeonholes surrounding a cupboard,
below are two short and two long
drawers, on later bun feet, 165cm. high by
94cm. wide; 5ft. 5in. by 3ft.

GEORGIAN AND REGENCY FURNITURE, George III mahogany Sofa Table, Regency mahogany rectangular Pembroke Table, Chinese black lacquer Cabinet-on-Stand

A George III mahogany Sofa Table,  inlaid with ebonised stringing, the frieze with two drawers, the solid lyre-shaped end supports joined bv an arched stretcher, the splayed

legs ending in brass cappings and castors, cm. wide. when closed; ft.

A George III mahogany and rosewood crossbanded D-shaped Card Table,  inlaid with satin wood stringing, the fold-over top revealing a green baize lining, the turned and reeded

tapering legs ending in brass cappings and castors, the top warped, cm. wide.; ft. Whin.

A George III mahogany and brass-bound Wine Cooler,  of
elongated octagonal form, with brass
carrying handles, the hinged cover
revealing a zinc-lined and divided
interior, the combined stand with fluted
apron and fluted chamfered legs, cm.
wide.; ft. lin.

A George II red walnut Side Table,  the frieze drawer formerly with divisions, on cabriole legs with lappet knees and pad feet, restored, cm. wide.; ft. in.

A WIIIiam and Mary oyster walnut Cabinet-on-Stand,  with chevron ivory inlaid borders, the arrangement of eight drawers surrounding a cupboard enclosing five drawers, the stand

with a drawer and a shaped apron, the later turned japanned legs joined by stretchers, cm. high by cm. wide.; ft. in. by ft.  in.

A pair of George III mahogany and upholstered Armchairs, the oval backs, padded arms and bowed seats covered in pink damask, the tapered square legs carved with bell flowers and

surmounted by paterae, the feet with fluted collars, restored

A George III mahogany Bureau,  the cleated fall revealing a fitted interior, below are four long graduated drawers and shaped bracket feet, on modern castors, restored, cm.

high by cm. wide.; ft. Vin. by ft.

A set of eight Regency mahogany
Chairs,  including two
armchairs, with rail backs and X-shaped
splats, the striped brocade Trafalgar
seats above sabre legs, restored

A George III carved mahogany
pie-crust Table,  the
associated tilt-top above a birdcage
support, the stop-fluted and baluster
turned pIIIar above acanthus-clad tripod
supports, on castors, restored, cm. diam.;
ft.

A George III mahogany and
satinwood crossbanded Work Table,
with chequered banding and
ebonised stringing, the frieze with two
drawers simulating three drawers, the
ring turned legs joined by X-shaped
stretchers, veneers partially lacking, cm.
wide.; lft. Vin.

A nest of three Regency rosewood
Tables,  the larger table with
a chessboard inset, on turned end
supports, with scroll pole stretchers and
scroll feet, faults,  cm. wide.; lft. in.

A George III small mahogany
Bureau-on-Stand,  with
satinwood banding and inlay, the fall
revealing a fitted interior, the apron with
a drawer, on tapered square legs, restored,
including later inlay,  cm. wide.; ft.

A George IV mahogany and
rosewood crossbanded square Piano,
by John Broadwood    Sons,
London, inlaid with cut-brass, ebonised
stringing and with gilt-metal mouldings,
the turned and reeded legs with brass
cappings and castors, cm. wide.;
ft.
A Regency mahogany rectangular
Pembroke Table,  with a
drawer and ring turned legs, on brass
cappings and castors, cm. wide.;
ft. Win.

A George III mahogany kneehole
Dressing Table, made-up, the frieze
drawer and ogee arched apron above a
recessed cupboard flanked by six short
drawers, on shaped bracket feet, cm.
wide.; ft. in.

A Chinese black lacquer Cabinet-on-Stand,  decorated in gilt and rust-red, the pair of doors with engraved brass mounts and escutcheons, the interior with an arrangement of

drawers surrounding a cupboard, the George II stand with square legs, faults, cm. high by cm. wide.; ft. Van. by ft. in.

A pair of Regency mahogany
Chairs,  with brass strung
cresting rails, clasp-shaped mid-bars and
cane seats, on ring turned legs

A large George II mahogany and
parcel-gilt frame Wall Mirror, circa
, the scroll surmount with an eagle
within a roundel, the base with a scroll
apron, cm. high by cm. wide.;
ft. Win. by ft. m.

A George II mahogany and parcel-gilt painted frame Wall Mirror,  the later rectangular bevelled plate flanked by pierced festoons, the scroll surmount with an associated eagle

and later foliate pendant, below is a scroll apron, restored, cm. high by cm. wide.; ft. in. by ft. in.

A George III mahogany and rosewood crossbanded Pembroke Work Table,  the frieze with two drawers, including one with compart¬ments, the ring turned legs ending in brass cappings

and castors, top with partial split, cm. wide. when closed; lft. in.

CHESTS ON STANDS
About 1680-1730
Many fashionable chests of drawers of this period were raised about 2 feet/60 cm from the ground on turned stands. By 1730 these seem to have been replaced by the more capacious tallboy. The information below
relates to the stands only; for details of the chest sections see under CHESTS OF DRAWERS: PANELLED OAK p.84 and CHESTS OF DRAWERS: VENEERED, p.86.
Late-17thC chest on stand of William & Mary type.
Pre-Queen Anne stands have one long (or after 1690 three short) drawer(s) supported on six turned legs joined by a platform, or turned stretchers with bun feet below. Cabriole legs with pad or hoof feet and without stretchers introduced about 1700. On both types, there is sometimes a shaped apron below the drawer(s). On three-drawer types, the central drawer is shallower than the side ones. Inverted projecting moulding at top of stand (into which chest slots) echoes similar moulded cornice at top of chest.
Early-18thc type with base in form of a lowboy or side-table.
Oak; solid walnut for legs; walnut veneer on pine for drawer sections and platform stretchers; oak for drawer linings (except for the drawer fronts).
Glued mortise-and-tenon joints. Turned legs dowelled into frame. Cabriole legs extend upwards to form corner stiles of framing.
Structural weakness and the partiality of wood-beetles for walnut have often contributed to the disappearance of the stand. The remaining chest section can easily be converted into a standard chest of drawers by the addition of a polished top  the original top being rough and concealed by the cornice and bun feet. These can often be identified by the presence of three rather than two small drawers at the top.
Drawers and drawer frieze as for chests, otherwise very plain.
Wax polish after varnish. Occasionally japanned. Spiral turnings occasionally ebonised (i.e. stained black).
VALUES
It is unusual to find a chest on stand without at least replacement feet, if not legs too. Even so, prices are well into the thousands. Replacement legs and stretchers, even if the drawer section is right, may reduce the
value by as much as 40 per cent. Fine and extensive marquetry is a huge bonus, possibly raising the price to a five-figure sum.

English Oak, Walnut and Mahogany Chests of Drawers

William and Mary period - c. 1690 - Walnut chest of drawers on bun feet, (not original). Inlaid with boxwood stringing lines in geometric pattern on top. Possibly placed originally on a low stand. Note the deep top edge moulding is more towards Queen Anne type but half-round or ‘D’ moulding on carcase fronts remains. Fairly straight-grained veneer but sides veneered and cross banded.
Price Range: 150-300
Value points: See section notes

Walnut chest of drawers of later period, c.1740-50, country made. The drawers are pine lined. The thin top edge moulding gives an example of later lack of boldness and the original double ‘D’ moulding around the drawers has been replaced by a single ‘D’ which is a little too clumsy at this width. Drawer fronts veneered in plain straight-grained walnut with little figure. Cross banding of drawers is ‘half-herring-bone’ , i.e. at 45 degrees which is typical of country pieces which emulated an earlier period. The top quartered and
cross banded in plain walnut. This piece has added interest in that the sides, instead of being plain pine or oak are, in fact, solid walnut (- factor).
Price Range: $75-$120
Value points: Treatment of sides i. e. Veneered  Solid Walnut
There are still plenty of these chests about but beware many ‘improved’ or recently veneered country pieces.

Mid-18th century mahogany chest of drawers on bracket feet. A thin thumb-nail top edge moulding round the top is echoed by the ovolo, lip moulding around the drawers. A very typical example of mid-18th century chests of fair quality and which are also found in oak and pine with occasional country variations.
Price Range: $50-$70
Value points: Figure of wood
(Faded mahogany is popular)

Mid-18th century mahogany chest of drawers. c. 1760. The four graduated drawers are cock beaded around the edges. The deep ovolo top edge moulding is repeated in the moulding around the base, above the shaped bracket feet. The figure of the wood is dark and rich.
Price Range: $60-$90
Value points: Size width. 3′ 0″ or under  2′ 9″ or under  2′ 6″ or under -
Figure of wood

A mid-18th century chest of drawers of high quality; of a design normally found in mahogany. Bold thumb-nail top edge moulding; brushing slide; chamfered and reeded sides; a fine graduation of drawer sizes; all indicate the quality of the piece. The bracket feet are boldly shaped and the plain ’swan neck’ handles are contemporary. Note the replacement of escutcheon plates by thethinthreaded key hole fittings.
Price Range: $100-$150 Value points: Brushing slide

A George III mahogany serpentine chest of drawers of a design frequently called Chippendale. Note the brushing slide and blind fretted edges. The decorated handles are of a high quality, matching the piece. The mahogany is of a fine faded colour and the mouldings and bracket feet are boldly executed. These pieces are of a heavier and bulkier character and the general rule of small size equating with higher value does not necessarily apply in this case.
Price Range: $400-$650
Value points: Brushing slide
Bold sweep of front elevation Fretted edges
Pronounced Mouldings

A late 18th century mahogany bow fronted chest of drawers with brushing slide. The four graduated drawers are cock beaded. The splayed feet have a nicely shaped apron between them. The top is cross banded with satinwood, an unusual feature of quality.
Price Range: $185-$225
Value points: Cross banding of top

A late 18th century bow fronted mahogany chest of three drawers with brushing slide, splayed feet and attractive apron.
Price range: $120 to $160
Value points: Low proportions  Brushing slide

A late 18th century serpentine fronted mahogany low chest of drawers on splayed feet. There is an inlaid line of boxwood stringing around the top edge.
Price Range: $75-$120
Value points: Size: since this is a low chest, the width is not as critical a factor in the price as with normal chests, but still affects value.

Mahogany chest on chest of drawers, or tallboy with brushing slide. The top half has a dentil frieze under the cornice and the sides are chamfered and reeded. The bracket feet are of serpentine shape. The swan-neck handles are original.
Price Range: $80-$100
Value points: Size is not such an important factor, since most pieces are fairly large and for this reason not expensive. A height of 6′ 6″ or under would however add to value.

A late 18th century mahogany bow fronted chest of drawers. This piece is of lower proportions, with deep drawers, and being thus somewhat smaller than the previous example, is in a slightly higher price range. The cock beading around the drawer edges can be seen clearly.
Price Range: $60-$85
Value points: See section notes

A late 18th century bow fronted mahogany chest of drawers. With ring handles and splayed feet.
Price Range: $45-$75
Value points: Size: Height 3′ 6″ or under

A Regency period mahogany bow-fronted chest of drawers with an applied solid twist or rope decoration down the front edge corners. The top and bottom edges are reeded. The turned legs give a hint of the rather bulbous turned examples that followed in the Victorian period. Although rather tall, the proportion of such chests is still good, particularly bearing in mind the larger houses which they were designed for.
Price Range: $5O- E1OO
Value points: Quality of wood used i. e. figure and decorative effect

Victorian mahogany bow-fronted chest of drawers on turned feet. The drawers have a heavy cock bead and the turned wooden knobs are also mahogany. The size of such chests tends to be large and cumbersome; the drawers less in number and hence deeper than earlier types.
Price Range: $10$-20
Value points: Satinwood …. Figured veneers

A Victorian chest of drawers of c. 1860, Usually made in mahogany. The ponderous moulded front of the top drawer throws the piece off balance and the bottom, with a solid flat base, raised slightly by turned knob feet, cannot hope to compensate in design. The turned wooden knobs are dear to the Victorian hearts and were frequently used as a replacement on chests of earlier periods in order to ‘improve’ them or bring them up to date - a vile practice which has ruined many fine 18th century pieces. Due to the fact that
they are extremely solidly made, regrettably large numbers of these chests have survived.
Price Range: $7-$I2
Value points: None

A very fine William and Mary period - c. 1690 - chest of drawers in oyster veneer, decorated with stringing lines in geometrical patterns. The wood used is laburnum, which gives a rich dark colour with a. hard, close grain. Even the half-round carcase edge mouldings around the drawers, the cross banding and the top and bottom edge ogee mouldings are in this wood, but the bun feet are probably walnut. Note that the sides are also decorated in the same manner as the top.
Price Range: 500-750
Value points: Quality of decoration  Decorated sides

William and Mary period - c. 1690 - chest of drawers veneered in laburnum oyster pieces. Possibly Anglo-Dutch due to low positioning of locks and the thin drawer linings. Top veneered in concentric circles of oysters. Sides also veneered in oysters with wide cross banding. Width 3ft. Note heavy top edge moulding similar to thumbnail and half-round or ‘D’ moulding on carcase front around drawers. Cross banding of drawers, top and sides in laburnum also. Handles not original.
Price Range: 250-450
Value points: Colour, patination and oyster pattern

A very fine William and Mary period - c. 1690 - chest of drawers in oyster veneer, decorated with stringing lines in geometrical patterns. The wood used is laburnum, which gives a rich dark colour with a hard, close grain. Even the half-round carcase edge mouldings around the drawers, the cross banding and the top and bottom edge ogee-mouldings are in this wood, but the bun feet are probably walnut. Note that the sides are also decorated in the same manner as the top.
Price Range: 500-750
Value points: Quality of decoration  Decorated sides

Early walnut chest of drawers - c. 1700 - inlaid with stringing lines in boxwood. Note heavy thumb-nail moulding around edge of top echoed in the moulding around the base above the bracket feet, possibly originally on low stand as feet are not original. The grain on original veneered feet is usually vertical, both to follow the direc - tion of the grain on the drawer front and because if it were cross -ways the veneer would chip off more easily. Half-round or ‘D’ moulding on carcase fronts around drawers. All mouldings cross-grained and in short lengths.
Price Range: $150-$350
Value points: Quality of decoration

Late 17th century - c. 1680 - oak chest of drawers often misnamed Jacobean. Note the simple mouldings and fielded panelling of the drawers. The chest is made in two halves for ease of transportation. The bun feet are typical of the William and Mary period. The drawers run on side rails on a rebate in the thick drawer linings, which are normally in oak.
The thin top has a thumb-nail lip edge moulding. The handles are original.*
Price Range: $80-$120
Value points: Veneered panels in other woods  Intricacy of mitred drawer fronts  Applied split baluster decoration  Decorated inlay
Original feet
*Note the deep second drawers.

A late 17th century oak chest of drawers similar to the previous example. The mitred drawer fronts are more decorated and the balance of the piece is lighter. There is a convex moulding under the top and the carcase frame continues down to form the feet; a feature of an earlier period. The knobs are not original.
Price Range: $75-$110
Value points: Veneered panels and inlaid decoration

CHESTS  on cabriole leg stands, 1700-1750
A fine quality walnut veneered chest on cabriole leg stand, the legs have a scroll at the shoulder. The veneers on the drawer fronts are matched and the carcase edges around the drawers have double-D cross-grained mouldings. c.1720
The introduction of the cabriole leg meant that stands as well as chairs had to have the new fashion, which was unfortunate for chests are heavy, the cabriole form is not even as strong as turning and walnut is not the strongest of woods. Add to this the addiction of furniture beetles for solid walnut and it is not surprising that after 250 years of varied treatment many legs have broken. All stands should be carefully checked. Note that tops are not veneered.
A quality walnut chest on stand. It appears here with cabriole legs which have rather effete shells on the knee. The contrast between the heavy William and Mary chest and stand and the rather thin legs raises doubts. It would look a great deal happier with a turned leg stand supported by flat stretchers like 336.
c. 1715
A fine small solid walnut chest on stand with original brasses and a nicely shaped apron to the stand. The small slightly stumpy cabriole legs and the deep moulding at the join of chest and stand give it a pleasantly robust, country look. The drawer edges have an ovolo lip moulding. The walnut is heavy and dense-grained. Thought to be from the slow growing northern areas, possibly Cumbria. c.1730
An oak chest on stand incorporating a secretaire drawer. Note the well-proportioned legs ending in the typically English pad foot, and the elaborately scrolled apron to the stand. The drawers have a lip mould which overlaps the carcase edge and they are cross-banded with walnut. The secretaire interior is a very pleasant design with elegant applied pillars flanking the central door. 1730-1750
A good quality chest of well matched walnut veneers with good grain and pleasant ripple effect. The base is a bit heavy (can one see here the move towards the chest on chest). The legs are replacements and are of a design sometimes known as Hackney Road after the main area of their production. c. 1725