What wood are Jacobean chests of drawers made from?

Oak, in 109 of the 122 titles on Sellingantiques. It is close to compulsory for the form, both at the 17th-century end and among the revival copies. The exceptions are few: walnut, walnut and fruitwood, cedar, stained pine, snakewood and fruitwood decoration, and one oyster-veneered chest. Those non-oak pieces are genuine one-offs in this category.

How can I tell a period chest from a revival one?

The title usually says. Period pieces are dated 17th Century, Before 1700 or by reign, with Charles II and William and Mary both used. Revival pieces read 'Jacobean Style' or 'Jacobean Revival'. The revival dates are firm: 1910s and 1920s between them account for nineteen listings, with Edwardian, 1890s, 1900s, 1880s and 1930s filling in around them.

Why do so many listings just say 17th Century?

Because that is how the dealers date them. Only 29 of the 122 listings carry a clean year, and 49 sit in the '17th Century' bucket with a further ten at 'Before 1700'. Titles tend to be more specific than the dated field. c.1680 recurs across a dozen separate chests, with a c.1690 and a William and Mary among the earliest.

What is a two-part chest?

A carcass built in two separable halves so it can be carried and moved in pieces. Several turn up in the archive, described as 'Two Part', '2 Part' or 'Two-Part'. Two-part construction shows up mainly among the earliest chests, and those titles cluster in the upper half of the range.

Are chests on stand part of this category?

Yes. The drawer case raised on a separate legged base appears across both branches, in period listings and revival ones. About one in ten of the category is a chest on stand, a two-part chest or similar. The revival end also produced a chest on chest and a cabinet on stand.

How often do these come up for sale?

Around eleven a year come to market on Sellingantiques. Seventy-one different dealers have listed one, so this is a form most dealers handle once rather than stock.