The thick shiny walnuts. Plum-pudding mahogany. Gorgeous, smooth patinas. Antique furniture is seeing a revival and increasingly, it’s a solid chest of drawers antiques auction houses and dealers are buying up.
The chest of drawers goes into the period between the 17th and the 16th centuries during which time social change was swiftly taking place throughout Europe. In the past, it was common to see huge joints held with iron nails. It was only towards the end in the seventeenth century when dovetailing was introduced and craftsmen started to experiment with various designs.
Gradually advancing drawers eventually evolved into the tall, antique chest of drawers that we see today, and which could exceed 1.5 meters in height. Since the 17th century and onwards there was a boom in design and many of them are priced high by antique dealers of chests of drawers in the present day.
Moving away from the basic Georgian chests of drawers among the more well-known decorative methods was marquetry. It used veneer to make designs. An interest in oriental art is evident on an array of antique chests of drawers that are available for sale at reputable centers as well as auctions, shops and stores. The whimsical style employed techniques like japanning, bambooing (the European version of lacquering and caning). One of the most striking examples of this kind of style is seen in the old bank of drawers in Brighton Pavilion, designed for the Prince of Wales (later George IV) during the first quarter of the 19th century.
Why should you buy an antique chests of drawers?
Remarkable quality
The demand for antique chests of drawers over time indicates that the quality and workmanship employed to make the chests is superior to chipsboards that are used in the present day. There is more wood by purchasing antique chests of drawers. Solid oak was the primary wood in Britain however, there are several antique walnut chests of drawers on sale because this wood has become in popularity due to its rich hue.
Astonishing diversity
The primary function that an old chest could be functional however the variety of pieces that have changed through time is vast. The majority of the value is in the unique differences in the form, construction size, and design (mainly determined by the area of origin, manufacturer or time period in which it was produced). Also, there’s the wood difference which determines access to colonial times or extravagant extravagance that ranges from antique chests of drawers made of light and smooth matte wood, or deep-stained Brazilian rosewood.
What is the value of chests of drawer antiques be worth?
1800: A mahogany antique chest of drawers that is decorated with a stunning oyster veneer, could be valued upwards of £10,000.
1750 1750: 1750: Rococo compothe (small cabinet of drawers) from Venice that has flowers and trellised borders It is possible to be seen with a hammer descending with a price of as high as £8,000.
1765-80: Pick up an old chest of drawers dating to in the George III period and you will see their value rise upwards of £20,000. The characteristics associated with this type include serpentine tops with chamfered edges, angles by Chinese and Gothic fretwork Rococo handles and brackets with a sculpted design.
1850: Though susceptible to chipping and damage of the veneer The veneer of a Dutch vintage mahogany dresser dating from the 19th century and adorned with ribbon-tied swags, leaf-filled fan spandrels and vases, could be worth between £2,000 and £4,000. Even with a few handles missing.
1875-1900: Find the 1875-1900 British Wellington chest of drawers and increase the value of the item significantly. A set from burr-walnut and featuring six drawers that are graduated Acanthus leaves of the Classical style, as well as corbels for drapery can be valued between £10,000 and 15,000.
Tips for chests of drawers antiques collection
Be aware of old drawers, usually recognizable by the variations in design and style. They are usually easily identified – the antique chest of drawers available for auction made of old carcasses of timber or an antique walnut chests of drawers, as an example.
It is a rule of thumb that smaller chests of drawers are likely to have more value for commercial use. That means that you will find fakes lying around.
Make sure you check the feet. The feet can be replaced in Georgian chests of drawers because bun feet have frequently been substituted for bracket feet. This could have been because of wear and tear, woodworm or simply changing styles. Be sure to look under the chest for holes in which these bun feet might have been installed initially.
Take a look at the handles. They may need to be relocated or even changed completely. The marks of bruising across the wooden work will tell you where the handles originally (primarily dropped handles) could have scratched off the wood.
Saw marks can assist you to determine the date. Straight saw marks are a sign of an antique chests of drawers that date back to the beginning in the 1800s. At the latter half of the century However circular saws were employed and left obvious circular sawmarks on the outside of carcasses.
Don’t be completely deterred by the thought of restoration. If it’s done according to a high standard and not intended to be deceitful the customer, it shouldn’t negatively impact the value of an vintage dresser.
A growing number of people are choosing to incorporate a stunning vintage chest of drawers in their homes. They are not just a an expression of class, but these pieces of storage are real investment pieces , and people who collect them are beginning to realize that they can score the best price when they are aware of where to search. From the sought-after George III’s antique mahogany drawers to stunning walnut banks , and even an vintage oak chest of drawers We can assure you that our selection is stuffed with genuineantiques of high quality with fair prices.