Georgian Style Storage
Georgian style storage brings classical proportion and generous timber to a room, offering practical utility through chests, sideboards and bookcases.
Georgian Style Storage
Georgian style storage encompasses a broad selection of foundational furniture pieces, dominated by chests of drawers, sideboards, bookcases, and cabinets.
The objects on this page bridge genuine period items from the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries with later revivals produced during the Edwardian era and the 1920s and 1930s.
Chest of drawers variations range from tall, narrow configurations to low serpentine commodes and bow fronts, reflecting domestic storage needs across different decades.
Materials and Technique
Makers utilised dense native and imported timbers, notably mahogany, oak, and walnut, often selecting figured veneers such as burr walnut and flame mahogany to create visual depth on drawer fronts.
Secondary decorative elements include satinwood inlay, brass handles, and iron bindings, which complement the structural joinery of the cabinets, cupboards, and linen presses.
Standards of Execution
Quality rests upon the selection of timber veneers and the precision of the cabinetmaker's joinery, where matched grain patterns and tight drawer tolerances distinguish superior pieces.
The refinement of carved mouldings, the integrity of original brass hardware, and the harmony of proportion between height and depth define the upper tier of these storage items.
Whytock and Reid
The Georgian Style Storage Glossary
- Chest on chest
- A tall storage unit comprising one chest of drawers stacked directly upon a slightly larger lower section, sometimes called a tallboy.
- Linen press
- A tall cupboard featuring upper doors enclosing sliding trays for textiles, positioned above a base fitted with drawers.
- Brushing slide
- A pull-out shelf integrated into the upper section of a chest, historically used as a writing surface or for folding garments.
- Serpentine
- A curved cabinet front characterised by a central convex section flanked by two concave curves, demanding high skill in veneer application.
- Breakfront
- A large piece of furniture where the central section projects forward from the flanking outer cabinets.
Georgian Style Storage: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a linen press used for?
A linen press serves as a tall storage cabinet designed originally to store household fabrics and garments on interior sliding trays.
The lower drawer section provides additional concealed space for heavier items, making these pieces substantial storage additions to a bedroom.
How do I identify a Georgian style chest?
These chests feature classical proportions, orderly drawer arrangements, and distinct timber selections such as mahogany or walnut.
Details like bracket feet, cockbeading around drawer edges, and brass pull handles point directly to this enduring design lineage.
What is a brushing slide?
A brushing slide is a shallow pull-out shelf fitted neatly beneath the top surface of a chest of drawers.
It provided a convenient temporary horizontal surface for folding clothes or writing without needing a separate desk.
Are Edwardian pieces considered authentic Georgian?
Edwardian and 1920s revival pieces draw heavily upon eighteenth-century design principles but were manufactured much later.
They represent skilled interpretations of earlier forms rather than original period items from the Georgian reigns.