ANTIQUE CHESTS OF DRAWERS (EARLY PANELED OAK) - 1650 to 1730

Distinctive, often ornamental, pieces of furniture made by traditional methods. Still produced by provincial and country makers long after more sophisticated walnut veneered chests were introduced from the Continent in about 1670. 

STYLE
Various combinations of single and double depth drawers, cupboard doors enclosing drawers, and chest with hinged lid (latter early type). Four-drawer version became the norm in about 1680.

Sometimes two separate sections, join concealed by projecting mitred moulding. Shallower mouldings are found between all drawers (or cupboard). 
Two small, or one long, drawer(s) at top, above three long, inside seldom reaching right to back of carcase. Separate overhanging to with moulding below (thumb-nail moulding from about 1700). Similar inverted moulding at base. All parts of front (and sometimes side frisze) decorated with mitred mouldings, and often split turnings too, sometimes combined with inlay. Drawer fronts divided decorative into two panels. Stile feet (i.e. the stiles of the :arcase extend below the base moulding) until about 1690 when bun feet appeared. 

RELATIVE VALES
In the past, of limited appeal; more recently popular with decorators for 'bold' interiors. Those with inlay and plenty of moulded and split-turned decoration four or five times as much as those with only edge mouldings to drawers. Only the latter still in three figures.