Antique Chest Of Drawers

A George III oak Dresser, A George III ivory painted Settee, A George III satinwood Pembroke Table, A Regency rosewood Games Table

A George III oak Dresser, circa
1770, the raised open-shelf back above
three drawers, on tapered square legs,
197cm. high by 156cm. wide; oft. 5l/nn.

An Italian walnut Cass one, circa
1690, hinged cover with a den tilled
frieze, the canted corners with scroll
carving and cherub heads, with mitered
moldings and carved feet, 173cm. wide;
5ft. 8in.

A Regency mahogany Wardrobe,
made-up, formerly part of a bookcase, with
receded terminals, the molded and
inlaid cornice above a pair of brass grille
doors, with pleated silk panels and
enclosing a lined interior with hanging
space, on a plinth base, 240cm. high by
150cm. wide; 7ft.

A George III ivory painted
Settee, circa 1800, the arched cresting
rail above solid vase-shaped splats with
foliate motifs, the button-upholstered
bow-fronted seat with ring turned legs
and castors, restored, 175cm. wide; 5ft. 9in.

A Regency mahogany Bedside Commode, circa 1810, with ebonized stringing, the sides with pierced carrying handles, with a cupboard above a converted drawer, on square legs,

restored, 48cm. wide

A George III mahogany Side Table, circa 1760, with two drawers, on molded and chamfered square legs,114cm. wide; 3ft. 9m.

A George III mahogany kneehole Dressing Tame, circa 1800, the frieze with a drawer, the recessed cupboard flanked by six short drawers, on shaped bracket feet, 86 by 110cm.;

2ft. by 3ft. 7in.

A George III mahogany serpentine-fronted Dressing Chest, circa 1780, with canted fluted corners, the frieze drawer with a baize-lined slide and compartments, below are three

long graduated drawers and shaped bracket feet, 81cm. high by 91.5cm. wide; 2ft. 8in. by 3ft.

A George III satinwood Pembroke Table, circa 1790, the rectangular top with broad burr walnut banding and kingwood cross banding, the whole inlaid with satinwood and hardwood

stringing, the frieze with a drawer, the tapered square legs ending in brass capping and castors, restored.

A George II mahogany kneehole Dressing Table, circa 1750, the cross banded top above a frieze drawer and apron drawer, the recessed cupboard flanked by six short drawers, on

shaped bracket feet, restored, 77cm. wide; 2ft. 62in.

A George II mahogany Bureau
Bookcase, circa 1750, the swan-neck
pediment with eagle finial, the pair of
fielded panel doors enclosing adjustable
shelves, the fall revealing a serpentine
and fitted interior with eagle-head
finials, below is an arrangement of two
short and three long drawers, on later
shaped bracket feet, faults, 240cm. high by
94cm. wide; 7ft.

A George III mahogany
break-front Sideboard, circa 1800, with
satinwood-strung borders and shell
medallions, the cutlery drawer and
arched apron drawer flanked by bowed
wings with a deep drawer and a
cupboard enclosing two short drawers,
the side with a pot cupboard, the
tapered square legs with collars, 94cm.
high by 198cm3ft.  by 6ft. 6in.

A George III mahogany Bureau,
circa 1780, the fall revealing a fitted
interior, below are four long graduated
drawers, on ogee bracket feet, distressed.

A George IV mahogany bow-front
Sideboard, circa 1825, the cutlery
drawer and arched apron drawer
flanked by a cellaret drawer and two
short drawers, the projecting corners
above ring turned legs, 174cm. wide;
5ft. 82in.

A George II mahogany
rectangular drop-leaf Table, circa 1750,
on circular tapering legs with pad feet,
92 by 116cm. extended; 3ft. by 3ft.

A Regency rosewood Games Table, circa 1815, the bowed ends with hinged covers and pierced brass gallery, the reversible top with chessboard inlay and revealing a lined

backgammon inset, the frieze with two narrow drawers, the solid end supports surmounted by an arched stretcher rail, the splayed feet ending in brass paw finials and castors,

restored, 122cm. wide; 4ft.

A George II red walnut Bureau Bookcase, circa 1740, the molded cornice above a fielded paneled door, the fall revealing a fitted interior, below are four long graduated drawers,

on shaped bracket feet, 194cm. high by 74cm. wide; 6ft. 5l/zm. by 2ft. 5in

A George IV mahogany pedestal Table, circa 1825, the rectangular top above a bold turned pillar and large molded quadruple splayed legs ending in brass capping and castors,

altered, formerly part of a larger table, 125 by 160cm.; 4ft.  by 5ft. 3in.

A George III mahogany Side Table, circa 1760, with three drawers and a shaped apron, on chamfered square legs, restored, 79cm. wide; 2ft. 7in.

A George III mahogany Drawing
Table, circa 1790, the rectangular
hinged top with gilt-tooled leather inset,
on ratchet support, the frieze with a side
drawer, the sides with saddle-shaped
hinged leaves, the apron drawer above
chamfered square legs and castors,
restored, 52cm. wide;  91/2m.

A William IV rosewood drum-top
Table, circa 1835, the tooled claret
leather-inset top above alternate real and
dummy drawers, the lotus-clad pillar
with a reform base, on bun feet and
concealed castors, 132cm. dial.; 4ft. 4in.

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.

A George III provincial oak Press, Queen Anne oak Chest-on-Stand, William and Mary oak Mule Chest, George I oak Blanket Chest

A William and Mary oak
rectangular Gate leg Table, circa 1690,
with two frieze drawers, the square and
baluster turned legs joined by stretchers,
102 by 130cm. extended; 3ft. 4in. by
4ft. 3m.

A Charles II oak and elm Cabinet,
made-up, with hinged cover and
twin-panel front, below is an apron
drawer, on stem feet with under tier,
96cm. high by 96cm. wide; 3ft. 2in. by
3ft. 2m.

A Queen Anne oak Chest-on-Stand, circa 1710, the molded cornice above a cushion frieze drawer, with two short and three long graduated drawers, the stand with three drawers and

an arcaded apron, on square cabriole legs, formerly with stretchers, restored, 152cm. high by 99cm. wide; 5ft. by 3ft. 3in.

A French provincial mahogany
Dough Bin, circa 1760, the serpentine-
fronted hinged cover above a tapering
body, the combined stand with a foliate
carved apron with matching stretchers,
the square and baluster turned supports
on scroll feet, 88cm. high by 130cm. wide;
A George II small oak Chest, circa 1750, with two short and three long graduated drawers, on shaped bracket feet, restored, 84cm. high by 90cm. wide; 2ft. 9in. by 2ft. 11 Van.

A William and Mary small oak Chest, circa 1690, with two short and two long cross banded drawers, on later shaped bracket feet, formerly the upper section of a chest-on-stand,

restored, 80cm. high by 83cm. wide; 2ft.

A William and Mary oak Mule Chest, circa 1700, with hinged cover and four-panel front, the two apron drawers with mitered moldings, on stem feet, 130cm. wide; 4ft. 3in.

A George II primitive ash comb-back Chair, circa 1750, the solid seat above chamfered splayed legs Joined by stretchers, restored.

A Dutch walnut standing Corner
Cupboard, circa 1750, the domed
cornice above a pair of paneled doors
enclosing a painted interior with
serpentine shelves, below are a smaller
pair of paneled doors enclosing a shelf,
with bowed corners and raised on
shaped bracket feet, 241cm. high by
135cm. wide; 7ft. l by 4ft. 5m.

A William and Mary carved oak Press Cupboard, circa 1690, bearing date 1691, the frieze carved with scroll motifs and the date and raised on a pair of pillars with a pair of

carved doors, the base similarly carved and with a pair of four-panel doors, 143cm. high by 163cm. wide; 4ft. 8in. by 5ft. 4in.

A George I oak Settle, circa 1720, with five arched and fielded panels to the back, the solid seat above square cabriole legs, 193cm. wide; 6ft. 4in.

A George III oak Dresser, circa
1780, the raised open-shelf back with a
molded cornice, the base with two
frieze drawers and an arched apron, on
chamfered square legs with an under tier,
on stem feet, altered and restored.

A Charles II oak Coffer, circa
1680, the triple-paneled front carved
with quatrefoil and pattered motifs, on
stem feet, restored, 132cm. wide; 4ft. 4in.

A George I oak Blanket Chest, circa 1720, now with a fixed cover, the front with four ogee arched and fielded panels and now forming a pair of doors, below are three drawers and

a shaped apron, on stem feet, altered and restored, 147cm. wide; 4ft. 7in.

A George II oak Clothes Press, circa 1750, the adjustable platform on solid end supports, below are three long drawers and later bun feet, 76cm. wide; 2ft. 6in.

A Queen Anne walnut Chest, circa
1710, now with a hinged oak top, below
are three long graduated drawers, on
shaped bracket feet, altered and restored,
81cm. high by 99cm. wide; 2ft. 8in. by
3ft. 3in.

A Charles II oak Press Cupboard,
circa 1680, the molded cornice and
frieze with initials D.I. and date 1725,
with turned supports flanking a pair of
cupboards and two central drawers,
below are a pair of paneled doors and
stem feet, restored and including later
timber, 173cm. high by 154cm. wide;
5ft. 8m. by 4ft. 5in.

A George II oak and pine Dresser,
circa 1750, the raised open-shelved back
with a molded cornice, the two frieze
drawers above a shaped apron, on
square legs and platform base, 200cm.
high by 155cm. wide; 6ft. 7 in. by 5ft.

A James I large oak Press
Cupboard, made-up, carved with
strap work and foliate motifs, the
S rejecting cornice with turned pendants asking a pair of cupboards centered by twin panels, below are four paneled doors, on stem feet, 170cm. nigh by 244cm. wide; 5ft. 7in. by

8ft.

An oak Dresser Base, late 17th Century, with molded top and three two-panel drawers, on two turned front legs, originally with four front legs, 84cm. high by 188cm. wide; 2ft.

9m. by 6ft. 2in.

A George III provincial oak Press, late 18th Century, with a pair of cupboard doors each with two arched fielded panels, the lower part with two drawers, on bun feet, 192cm.

high by 168cm. wide; 6ft. 31. by 5ft. 6in.

A George II oak Mule Chest, circa 1725, the frieze carved with initials and date 1727, below are triple fielded panels and two drawers, on stem feet, 138cm. wide; 4ft. 6in.

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 Chests on Stand

William and Mary walnut chest on stand. Cross banded drawers and top with inlaid stringing line. Note early period thumb-nail top edge moulding. Half-round moulding on carcase front. c. 1690.
Price Range: $200-$400
Value points: See section notes

William and Mary Period - c. 1690 - oyster and marquetry chest on stand of superb quality. The twist turning which remained so popular after the Restoration is well illustrated in the legs. The flat, shaped stretcher is veneered in walnut on the top face. The mouldings are first class examples of the cross-grained type of the period and the thick inlaid boxwood lines are bold examples of the type. Note that the sides are also veneered and inlaid with boxwood stringing. A half round moulding on the carcase front follows the
drawer edges.
Price Range: $800-$1,200
Value points: Quality of marquetry decoration

William and Mary Walnut and Marquetry chest on stand. Half-round moulding on carcase front around drawers. ‘Concave’ top edge moulding. Panels of marquetry on drawer fronts. Convex-fronted cushion drawer in top of chest, under top moulding. Typical period stand in solid walnut with inverted cup turning, shaped stretchers and bun feet. c. 1690-1700.
Price Range: $350-$1, 000. Large range scale accounted for by originality of base or stand.
Value points: Quality of marquetry and veneer

William and Mary oak chest on stand with drawers cross banded in walnut. The projecting lip moulding, rather like a cock bead, around the shaped frieze of the base, is a feature found on dressing tables of the period. Note the double D moulding on carcase front around the drawers.
Price Range: $160-$I90
Value points: Drawers cross banding

Queen Anne period chest on stand. First quarter 18th century. Note the fine cabriole legs and shaped base. Carcase fronts now flat veneered - no moulding - and drawers have ovolo lip moulding around edges to ‘lip’ over carcase front. Drawers cross banded. Note concave typical top moulding.
Price Range: Walnut $200 - $400. Oak $85 - $140 Value points:
In Walnut: Quality and originality of cabriole legs
In Oak:    Colour and grain  Medullary rays (see A. C. C.
Wood Identification Supplement) across drawer
fronts tend to detract from value.
Drawer cross banding: If in walnut or fruitwood  Mahogany (after 1730)  Many country versions have no cross banding or ovolo moulding on drawers.

Queen Anne period chest on stand in veneer. Note that the cabriole legs have the shell motif on the knee - a mark of quality -and web feet, an unusual feature also of quality. The piece is boldly proportioned with shaped frieze to the stand, half round or ‘D’ moulding on the carcase front around the drawers and a simple cross banding. All the mouldings are cross-grained and of good proportionPrice
Range: $300-$400
Value points: Quality and originality of cabrioles

Queen Anne country walnut chest on stand. Ogee type top edge moulding; half-round or ‘D’ moulding on carcase edges around drawers. Note the ‘half-herring bone’ cross banding around drawers i.e. the cross banding is at 45 degrees - a cheaper variation of the full herring-bone or ‘feather’ type cross banding. This type of cross banding was used on country pieces until a later date, running concurrently with full herring-bone; it is easier and simpler to produce. The square-cut cabriole legs are rather clumsy - those on the illustrated piece are not original. The top is not veneered and it has plain pine sides and drawer linings. The handles and escutcheons are period reproductions. Walnut veneer has some figure but the piece has poor patination. A patch in the veneer can be seen on the second long drawer in the top half, on the left hand side.
Price Range: $120-$150
Value points: See section notes

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

Chest-on-stand

The revolution in the art of veneering was quite spectacular, both in terms of craftsmanship and in design. Veneering, marquetry and parquetry originally came to England from the Netherlands, and gained in popularity when Charles it returned from The Hague in 1660 with a retinue of foreign craftsmen, artists, silversmiths and designers. With the succession of William of Orange to the English throne in 1689, the two countries were, even more closely connected.
The technique of veneering, of which marquetry is a part, required a complete change in the construction of chest furniture, from the traditional frame construction to the carcase method. In England, carcase wood was almost exclusively close-grained Baltic pine with drawers lined in oak until the beginning of the eighteenth century. The Dutch, by contrast, used red or white
European softwoods for their veneered furniture which, from the seventeenth century onwards, they made in far greater quantities and of varying qualities.
Marquetry seems to have arrived fully fledged in England, for there are no surviving examples of clumsy, early work while English craftsmen learned the new technique. From this it is perhaps fair to assume that skilled craftsmen from the Netherlands crossed the Channel and established the craft of ‘cabinet-making’ in England, teaching English carpenters and joiners a new skill. Previously their only method of decorating woods had been by inlaying.
Signs of authenticity
1. Interior surfaces more brightly coloured than exterior, which has been faded by light.
2. Oak drawer linings.
3. Locks inset into thickness of cabinet doors, drawer in base. Keyholes, escutcheons, should not break into decorative
pattern knobs, drawer-pulls should be set within drawer panels, rather than cutting into featherbanded or herringbone edging.
4. Steel or brass pin hinges to cabinet doors.
5. Steel locks and lock casings to c.1700, thereafter brass lock casings with steel levers.
6. Wide variety of woods for inlays: cherry, laburnum, olive wood, harewood, (dyed
sycamore) and, from c.1685 boxwood, holly, burrwood, ebony and yew wood.
7. On quartered veneer panels, such as the insides of doors with a central marquetry panel, the ground veneer is in four separate pieces: grain should not run through decorative panels in continuous line.
8. Featherbanding or herringbone cross-cut veneer around drawers and doors running to central point at top and bottom, not continuing round without change of direction.
9. Veneer thickness almost 1/8 in and same thickness on both sides of doors.
Likely restoration and repair
10. Exterior veneers scraped down to remove discolouration or fading, sometimes concealing parts which have been reveneered in new wood.
11. Drawer linings, of red or white pine indicates Dutch or Continental origins.
12. Plain veneer on inner surfaces of doors where original has lifted, bubbled and cracked, beyond repair.
13. Cornice directly above doors where cushion drawer has been damaged and removed.
14. Stands replaced with frieze-drawers, newly veneered to match up with cabinet: veneers are thinner, colours and cutting of marquetry will vary slightly from original.
15. Damage to carcase wood from weight of doors on hinges. Hard to detect, but important because weakness can recur. Veneer steamed off, wood repaired and veneer replaced, leaving no dirt around hinges.
Construction and materials
With the advent of carcase construction, not only did the old frame-and-panel method of making furniture change, but so did the construction of drawers. The old through dovetail was abandoned in favour of the stopped dovetail or lapped dovetail, and drawers ran on bottom runners instead of grooves on drawer sides, so that the thickness of drawers could be reduced and to give a smooth surface to which veneer could adhere.
As with chairs of the same period, many sound construction principles and the fine finish were sacrificed for the sake of appearance. The twist-turned legs of the stands were often no more than dowelled into the base of the carcase wood, and not surprisingly
Variations
Continental
Dowry chests without stands were imported in considerable quantities from the Netherlands from the end of the seventeenth century onwards, usually made in pine or poplar and inlaid with pale-coloured woods with motifs of hearts, doves, and tulips.
Small chests of drawers with two doors were more commonly made in England, in oak with fielded or coffered panels and drawers, for keeping small articles and precious possessions. They are very similar to spice cabinets of later date.
Right, above: a full view of the open chest-on-stand opposite  a superb Charles ii piece with cushion drawer. Inlaid panels of tulips, flowers and scrolls of leaves, all mounted on a twist-and bobbin-turned stand.
Right, below: a fine quality, late seventeenth century chest-onstand in oyster veneer.
few have survived intact. Most of the stands were made in walnut, another reason for their disappearance, since walnut is very susceptible to woodworm.
Detail
All decoration was on the surface, in the fine figuring of the veneer and the intricately cut marquetry designs. Chests were almost completely flush-surfaced, with the exception of the cushion drawer beneath the cornice. It comes as quite a surprise to find that the interior finish of these grand cabinets is often comparatively rough and ready, with crude iron nails still securing the sides and bottoms of drawers, unfinished wood, and coarse saw-cut oak planking nailed to the back.
Reproductions
Nineteenth century Chests-on-stands had a much longer life on the Continent than they did in England, although the nineteenth century saw a revival in popularity. Few were actually made in England but, either elaborately fitted with small drawers, or with two doors and an ordinary shelved cupboard, were imported in considerable numbers. The taste of the time was very much inclined towards the Gothic, and more chests-on-stands from southern Germany came into England at this period than their more traditional
counterparts from Holland.
Twentieth century
Spanish and Portuguese varguenos have come into England more recently, as well as cheaply made but impressive-looking Italian versions using tortoiseshell instead of veneer.
The veneer is frequently surrounded with ebonized stringof-beads moulding, similar to the fashion in England during the William and Mary period.
Most showy chests-on-stands of recent manufacture have not been made or reproduced in England because they are extremely time-consuming to make and the costs outweigh any ultimate profit.
Price bands
Charles II marquetry with fine interior fittings and original walnut stand with drawer, $9,000-12,000.
Charles II with restored or later stand, 6,000-8,500.
Chest on low stand with oyster veneer and fine inlay, $4,500-6,500.
As above, but on restored or later stand, 3,500-4,500.