Object Description
An Extremely Attractive And Very Good Quality Early 18th Century Queen Anne Period Walnut Chest, Retaining Good Colour And Patina Throughout, The Well Figured Quarter Veneered Top With Wide Crossbanded Decoration, Over Two Short And Three Long Drawers, Retaining Original Brass Drop Handles & Crossbanded Decoration, Flanked By Attractive Figured & Crossbanded Ends, Raised On Replacement Turned Bun Feet.
Towards the end of the 17th century, and at the start of the 18th century, as cabinet makers became more skilled and more decorative woods became available to them then the very best in their field sought to find ways to show off and heavily decorate what could once have been regarded as plain, functional items of furniture. The cabinet maker who made this chest was certainly one of those people, with various different cuts of walnut & crossbanded decoration being used to create attractive decorative effect.
This is a great example of an early 18th century walnut veneered chest of drawers, with exceptional care and attention to detail paid to the figuring of the top and sides really setting it apart from the majority of similar examples from both this period and later. You often find that when so much effort has been put into the decorative feel of the piece, then the quality of construction is lacking, but there is certainly no danger of that here with this wonderful chest.
Its worth noting as well of course that on many of these chests from this period very little effort was made to decorate the sides, but the sides on this chest of drawers are nicely figured and banded, meaning it is just as attractive even when approached from the side.
The brass handles appear to be original, with no signs of any previous handle holes and the correct amount of wear and rubbing in the right places, which leaves us absolutely no reason to doubt their originality. It is pretty unusual to find original handles on a chest of drawers of this age, so that is a really good feature.
The bun feet have been replaced at some point in its history, but this is very, very common on items of this age and its great that they have been replaced with examples which suit the piece and sit well on it.
There are no aesthetically displeasing condition issues of any kind, remarkable really considering that the chest is over 300 years old!
As with all items which we offer for sale this chest of drawers has been attended to by our highly skilled, traditional antique furniture restorers, ensuring that it is very much ready to be placed immediately into the home.
Circa 1710.
Height 33.5in.
Width 39in.
Depth 22in.