Buying an Antique Chest of Drawers: A Practical Checklist

A chest of drawers can be attractive, useful and revealing about cabinetmaking. Value and usability depend on construction, proportion, surface and the extent of later alteration.

Identify what you are looking at

Inspect the back, underside and drawer construction. Hand-cut dovetails, drawer-bottom direction, backboards, locks and secondary woods help establish how the chest was made, but no single feature proves a date.

Avoid dating from one feature. Construction, materials, hardware, surface, documentary evidence and known comparable examples should point in the same direction.

Condition checklist

Check whether the case is square, drawers run without dropping, feet and cornice belong, handles align with old fixing holes, and locks and escutcheons are complete. Look for splits, woodworm evidence and heavily planed drawer edges.

Normal wear can be attractive and honest. Structural movement, concealed repairs and missing functional parts affect value and usability more than small surface marks.

Questions for the seller

Ask about provenance, restoration, replaced feet or handles, refinishing and return terms. Request photographs of the back, underside and removed drawers when buying remotely.

A confident seller should distinguish fact from attribution and describe restoration clearly. Keep screenshots, invoices and written condition statements for significant purchases.

Practical ownership

Measure the space, stair route and internal drawer depth. A level floor and moderate humidity will help drawers operate reliably.

Consider maintenance, insurance and future transport. An antique that fits the room, route and intended level of use is usually a better purchase than one chosen on age claims alone.

Before committing

View the piece in person where possible, use a strong torch, and inspect underneath and behind with permission. For a high-value purchase, seek an independent condition report or specialist opinion. Buy the object for its combined quality, integrity, usefulness and appeal rather than relying on a single label.