Are most walnut chests solid walnut or veneered?

The titles lead with veneer far more often than with solid timber. Burr walnut appears in 1,039 of 3,264 listings, figured walnut in 228, and both describe a decorative face laid over a carcase. Oyster veneer, crossbanding and featherbanding turn up at the early end, and parquetry and marquetry on a smaller group again.

What is a Wellington chest?

A tall narrow chest of many small drawers, with a hinged flap down one side that locks the whole stack shut. It shows up in 131 titles. It sits in the same heading as bachelors' chests, secretaire chests and campaign chests, which together make a steady tenth or so of the category.

Why do so many chests say Georgian style rather than Georgian?

Because a large body of these chests was made in the 1900s to 1930s in eighteenth-century taste. Titles like 'Georgian design small burr walnut serpentine chest' with a 1920 date are typical. The decade tags for 1900s to 1930s cover 1,005 listings, against 622 dated 18th Century. The title and the date together tell you which of the two a chest is.

How old is the earliest walnut chest recorded?

Dating starts at 1650. The earliest dated pieces include a Charles II chest given c1680 and a geometric inlaid chest at circa 1660. Several William and Mary chests on stands carry the tag 'Before 1700' rather than a year.

Where do the continental commodes come from?

France dominates, with 350 titles, and Italy follows at 68. Marble tops appear on 142, and Louis and Louis Philippe are named throughout. Dutch examples turn up in 34 titles, often bombé in shape. Scandinavian, Swedish, Bavarian, Irish and Venetian chests each surface only once or twice across the whole archive.

Is this a common category on Sellingantiques?

Around 349 walnut chests are listed a year, and 270 separate dealers have offered one. Almost every general furniture dealer touches the category at some point. Odd forms surface once or twice only: a music sheet cabinet of drop-front drawers, a specimen collectors' cabinet, an apprentice chest, a faux bamboo commode, a bonnet-top chest on stand.

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Antique Walnut Chest of Drawers

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A case of drawers veneered or made in walnut, used for folded clothes and linen in a bedroom, or in the continental commode form, for a reception room.