Art Deco Storage Chest
An art deco storage chest brings geometric symmetry and striking grain patterns to a room, offering practical storage disguised as fine furniture.
Art Deco Storage Chest
An art deco storage chest encompasses tallboys, commodes, blanket boxes, and bedside cabinets primarily originating from the nineteen thirties and nineteen twenties. These pieces deliver substantial drawer and compartment capacity while maintaining the streamlined silhouettes characteristic of the period.
Buyers will encounter various forms on this page, ranging from French commodes to English walnut tallboy cabinets and oak blanket chests. The selection spans standard chests of drawers alongside specialised storage designed for cutlery, jewellery, and linens.
While most examples date from the interwar decades, related items stretch back through Edwardian and Victorian iterations into earlier twentieth-century revivals. Walnut and oak dominate the offerings, frequently enhanced by specialised veneers and contrasting timber selections.
Distinguishing quality in the range
Quality rests upon the selection and matching of timber veneers, where book-matched burr walnut or birds eye maple creates symmetrical patterns across multiple drawers. Superior execution shows in the crispness of carved details, the integration of contrasting timbers like satinwood and palisander, and the retention of original brass hardware.
Structural integrity and provenance elevate specific examples, particularly documented pieces by noted makers or workshops. The harmony between internal drawer construction, specialised fittings such as parchment-covered panels, and the overall proportion dictates the standing of each piece.
Camphor wood chests bring a distinctly aromatic presence to storage, secretly keeping linens fresh while masquerading as modernist art deco furniture.
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The Art Deco Storage Chest Glossary
- Tallboy
- A tall chest of drawers, often combining a cabinet or wardrobe section above standard drawers to maximise vertical storage.
- Commode
- A low chest of drawers or cabinet, frequently associated with continental European styling and decorative veneer work.
- Veneer
- A thin slice of figured wood applied over a secondary timber base to create decorative patterns without excessive weight or cost.
- Blanket box
- A large chest designed for storing linens and blankets, sometimes featuring internal trays or aromatic woods like camphor.
- Palisander
- A dense, richly figured tropical timber utilised in high-end cabinet making for its dark grain and durability.
Art Deco Storage Chest: Frequently Asked Questions
What defines an art deco storage chest?
These pieces combine functional storage compartments with the clean lines, geometric forms, and exotic wood veneers typical of the interwar decades.
They appear primarily as tallboys, commodes, and blanket chests built from walnut, oak, and specialised exotic timbers.
How do tallboys differ from standard chests?
Tallboys provide greater vertical height, frequently incorporating upper cupboard doors above a bank of lower drawers.
This elevated format maximises storage capacity while occupying a smaller floor footprint than traditional wide chests.
Where were these storage chests manufactured?
Production spans English workshops, French studios, and Canadian makers, reflecting an international modernist design movement.
Regional preferences emerge in the choice of materials, such as French ebonised finishes versus English walnut and oak.
How do you care for walnut veneer?
Protect the polished surfaces from direct sunlight and excessive moisture to prevent fading and veneer lifting.
Apply occasional appropriate wax polish and buff gently with a soft cloth to maintain the natural sheen of the wood.