What is the difference between a coffer and a mule chest?

A coffer is the plain lidded box. A mule chest adds one or two drawers in the base, so you get storage under the lid and drawer space below. Mule appears in 277 titles, about one in nine. Many are described as Georgian, often with two drawers.

Why do so many listings say coffer instead of chest?

Coffer is the standard trade word for this form and it sits in 1,645 of 2,359 titles on Sellingantiques. Blanket box, bedding box and kist cover much of the rest, with blanket alone in 220 titles. Searching on one word only will cut out a large part of the category.

How old are most oak coffers on the market?

The dated field runs from 1597 to 1940, and the middle two centuries do most of the work: 626 listings filed as 18th century, 617 as 17th. Around them sit looser labels, Georgian, 19th Century, Before 1700, Victorian. A 20th-century group of plain oak blanket boxes runs to 1940.

What is a coffer bach?

It's the Welsh name for a small chest, sometimes raised on its own stand. Welsh appears in 132 titles and bach in 88, with spellings shifting between coffer bach, coffor bach and coffr bach. South Wales and Montgomeryshire both turn up as attributions.

Are the dates carved on some chests part of the title?

Only 34 titles use the word dated, and the carved years that appear include 1643, 1658, 1670 and 1678. Those pieces sit almost entirely at the top of the range. A carved year and a named region together are the two things that lift a listing furthest.

Does the listed date always match the title?

Not always. The samples show a "17th century Oak Coffer" filed under 16th Century and a George II piece filed under Regency. Title and dated field are worth reading together, since many entries are vague by nature rather than precise.

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Antique Oak Chests

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A lidded oak storage chest, listed almost always as a coffer, built to hold linen, bedding, grain, documents and plate before fitted cupboards and chests of drawers took over.

19th century

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Stunning Fine Antique 19th Century English Oak Coffer Storage Chest Trunk Box

From Richardsons Antiques

£495

FOR SALE

chests

18th century

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Rustic Box Settle C.1760

From Collinge Antiques

£795

FOR SALE

chests

Victorian Oak Silver Chest with Iron Handles & Brackets

19th century

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Victorian Oak Silver Chest with Iron Handles & Brackets

From Browns Antiques and Reclamation

£595

FOR SALE

chests

19th century

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A Lovely 19th Century Oak and Iron Bound Former Silver Chest. Bearing the Label for Earl Poulett of Somerset.

From Designer Antiques4u

£495

FOR SALE

chests

17th century

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17th Century James I Oak Six Plank Coffer C1624

From Walton House Antiques

£850

FOR SALE

chests

17th century

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Fine 17th Century Carved Oak Coffer

From Elaine Phillips Antiques Ltd

£780

FOR SALE

chests

18th century

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Antique Large Georgian Oak Mule Chest | 18th Century

From ActFurniture LTD

£585

FOR SALE

chests

18th century

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Large 18th-century Oak Mule Chest with Drawers and Hidden Storage

From Steven Swann Antiques

£395

FOR SALE

chests

Antique Charles II West Yorkshire Inlaid Oak Coffer C.1680

17th century

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Antique Charles II West Yorkshire Inlaid Oak Coffer C.1680

From Founders Antiques

£1,250

FOR SALE

chests

17th century

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17thc. Oak “Six Plank” Coffer

From Piers Pisani Ltd Antiques and Furniture

£775

FOR SALE

chests

The top sale of the last year on Sellingantiques was a 16th century carved oak coffer showing the Triumph of Venus and Dido, dated 1515, sold in May 2026.

17th century

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17th Century Carved Oak Coffer

From Elaine Phillips Antiques Ltd

£850

FOR SALE

chests

Antique Small 20th Century Oak Blanket Box | Dome Top Lid

1900 - 1920

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Antique Small 20th Century Oak Blanket Box | Dome Top Lid

From ActFurniture LTD

£365

FOR SALE

chests

1900 - 1920

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Small Size Oak Lid Box / Coffer

From James R Millington Antiques

£245

FOR SALE

chests

Antique 20th Century Carved Oak Blanket Box | Linenfold Panels

1900 - 1920

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Antique 20th Century Carved Oak Blanket Box | Linenfold Panels

From ActFurniture LTD

£295

FOR SALE

chests

18th century

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Good Late 17th / Early 18th Century Oak Coffer.

From Stalham Antique Gallery

£450

FOR SALE

chests

18th century

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18th Century Welsh Oak Coffer Bach

From Abersoch Antiques

£650

FOR SALE

chests

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Antique Oak Chests

Stunning Fine Antique 19th Century English Oak Coffer Storage Chest Trunk Box

Rustic Box Settle C.1760

Victorian Oak Silver Chest with Iron Handles & Brackets

A Lovely 19th Century Oak and Iron Bound Former Silver Chest. Bearing the Label for Earl Poulett of Somerset.

17th Century James I Oak Six Plank Coffer C1624

Fine 17th Century Carved Oak Coffer

Antique Large Georgian Oak Mule Chest | 18th Century

Large 18th-century Oak Mule Chest with Drawers and Hidden Storage

Antique Charles II West Yorkshire Inlaid Oak Coffer C.1680

17thc. Oak “Six Plank” Coffer

17th Century Carved Oak Coffer

Antique Small 20th Century Oak Blanket Box | Dome Top Lid

Small Size Oak Lid Box / Coffer

Antique 20th Century Carved Oak Blanket Box | Linenfold Panels

Good Late 17th / Early 18th Century Oak Coffer.

18th Century Welsh Oak Coffer Bach

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