Black Side Table Drawers
These black side table drawers bring dark timber, lacquer and hand-painted finishes to bedside and occasional use.
Black Side Table Drawers
When you search for black side table drawers, you are looking at utilitarian and decorative small tables fitted with storage, spanning periods from the eighteenth century through to the early twentieth century. The selection ranges from Georgian side tables and lowboys to Victorian ebonised writing desks and Edwardian occasional tables, alongside painted or lacquered lamp tables and bedside chests.
You are most likely to meet nineteenth century ebonised writing desks, painted lamp tables, and twentieth century chinoiserie lacquered pairs on this page. These pieces serve practical functions in sitting rooms and bedrooms alike, combining drawer storage with compact surface area.
The origins lean towards English traditional and country forms, alongside French styles such as Louis XVI Chinoiserie and commodes. They vary from simple bowfront and serpentine shapes to three-tier tables and drapers tables.
How they were made
The construction relies on wood as the primary substrate, frequently enhanced by ebonisation or painted surfaces to achieve the dark finish. Craftspeople applied lacquer in oriental and chinoiserie interpretations, often building up decorative motifs on top of the black ground.
Hardware details involve brass fittings, whilst specific iterations incorporate marble tops or leather surfaces inset into writing desks and dressing tables. The cabinetwork utilises traditional joinery suited to small tables, lowboys, and commodes.
Black Side Table Drawers Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for black side table drawers among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
What varies in quality
The quality separates on the refinement of the surface decoration, distinguishing hand-painted geometric tops and intricate chinoiserie lacquer from simpler painted finishes. Finer execution shows in the crispness of the ebonised wood and the preservation of original lacquer work.
Structural integrity and the selection of secondary materials, such as the inclusion of marble or quality brass handles, mark out the more ambitious pieces from standard occasional tables. The depth of the period detail, from Georgian proportions to Edwardian styling, dictates the standing of each piece.
The Black Side Table Drawers Glossary
- Ebonised wood
- Timber treated to imitate ebony, giving a dense black finish popular on nineteenth century writing desks and side tables.
- Chinoiserie
- European interpretations of Chinese decorative arts, frequently featuring gold and coloured motifs on a black lacquered ground.
- Lowboy
- A small eighteenth century table with one or more rows of drawers, often used as a dressing or side table.
- Bowfront
- A convex curved front elevation found on chests and tables, shaping the arrangement of the drawers.
Black Side Table Drawers: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a lowboy?
A lowboy is a small table with drawers, typically originating from the eighteenth century and functioning as a dressing table or side table.
These pieces stand on relatively tall legs, offering compact storage beneath a flat top surface.
How do I identify ebonised wood?
Ebonised wood is timber that has been stained or chemically treated to achieve a deep, uniform black appearance resembling real ebony.
This finish appears frequently on nineteenth century furniture to create a formal, dark aesthetic.
Where should I place a side table with drawers?
These tables suit bedrooms as bedside storage or living rooms acting as lamp tables and occasional desks.
The inclusion of drawers provides practical space for small items while maintaining a compact footprint.
What is chinoiserie furniture?
Chinoiserie is a European decorative style reflecting Chinese artistic influences, often executed in lacquered black with painted gold details.
Pairs of these chests and tables bring distinct patterns and reflective surfaces into an interior.