Questions & Answers
Our trusted network of 1stDibs sellers answer common questions
How do I identify an antique chest of drawers?
1 Answer

To identify an antique chest of drawers, look inside and beneath drawers and on the back and bottom for any type of maker's marking. Researching these marks using trusted online resources may allow you to determine who produced your chest and roughly date your piece. If your chest is at least 100 years old, it is an antique. Should you be unable to locate the maker's marks, look at the hardware. Rose head nails, one-piece cast brass pommels on the drawer handles and circular rather than hexagonal bolts may all indicate that a piece is an antique. Keep in mind that hardware may have been replaced at some point and that there are many reproductions of antique furnishings. As a result, you may wish to have a certified appraiser or experienced antique dealer complete the identification process if you're unable to identify your chest via the maker's markings. Find a range of antique chests of drawers on 1stDibs.
1stDibs ExpertNovember 4, 2024
Related Questions
- How do I identify an antique dresser?1 Answer
- How do I identify an antique table?2 Answers
- How do I identify my antique furniture?1 Answer
- How do I identify my antique clock?1 Answer
- How do I identify an antique fan?1 Answer
Shop for Commodes and Chests of Drawers on 1stDibs
Vintage French Provincial Louis XV Carved Walnut Bombe Commode Chest
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage French Provincial / Louis XV style walnut bombe chest / commode / chest of drawers / console featuring a planked top with two large drawers and carved acanthus accents.
Dime...
Category
Late 20th Century French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Walnut
$1,387 Sale Price
25% Off
French 18th Century Mahogany Petite Commode
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A petite mahogany commode from circa 1780 France, aligning with the Louis XVI taste, it is a multipurpose storage piece scaled down bedside table proportions to use practically anywh...
Category
Antique 18th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Brass
Shagreen Commode with Bronze Patina Brass Details by R&Y Augousti
Located in New York, NY
The Paris based label has distinguished themselves since their launch, with their iconic use of shagreen mixed with brass and other exotic materials. All furniture is handcrafted by ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Commodes and Chests of...
Materials
Brass
French 19th Century Tall Chest of Drawers
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
French 19th century Directoire style fruitwood chest of drawers, appearing to be a semainier except with six drawers instead of the requisite seven. Below the modest wood top and rou...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
19th Century Louis XVI Style Walnut Commode
Located in Charlottesville, VA
A 19th century walnut commode in the Louis XVI style, featuring clean lines, fluted legs, and original round brass pulls. The case offers two narrow drawers above two full-width draw...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Walnut
Japanese Antique 4‑Drawer Storage 1860s-1920s / Tansu Sideboard Wabi Sabi
Located in Chōsei District Nagara, JP
This is an old Japanese chest of drawers, crafted between the Meiji and Taisho periods (1860s–1920s). It retains the rich character and craftsmanship of its era, reflecting the skill...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Iron