Treasured chests

Chests of drawers are perhaps among the most useful pieces of furniture you are ever likely to own. Coming in many different configurations, they are, I find, both highly decorative and aesthetically pleasing to look at. As with any type of furniture, quality and style varies enormously, but whether it is a naive country piece or an example by one of the finest cabinetmakers, such as Thomas Chippendale, there is something to suit every pocket and taste.

Household staple

The origin of the chest of drawers is relatively straightforward. The coffer or trunk was, for many centuries, a traditional way of storing clothes and property and was the staple of many households. A 17th-century derivation of this is the mule chest – a panelled or plain coffer with a lift-up lid over one or more drawers. They are in essence the perfect half-way house between the coffer