Wooden Storage Tallboy
A wooden storage tallboy provides vertical capacity for clothing and linen while taking minimal floor space in a traditional bedroom.
Wooden Storage Tallboy
A wooden storage tallboy principally takes the form of tall chests of drawers, chest on chest configurations, and compactums originating from periods spanning the eighteenth century through to the Edwardian era. These pieces deliver substantial interior volume by stacking multiple drawers vertically rather than spreading horizontally across a wall.
The selection here draws heavily upon Georgian, Regency, and Victorian examples alongside Edwardian pieces and twentieth-century interpretations. Buyers encounter forms ranging from bow-fronted mahogany designs to golden oak and pitch pine constructions built for domestic utility.
How they were made
Cabinet makers utilised dense hardwoods such as mahogany, walnut, and oak alongside softer pine for internal linings and regional furniture. Selected pieces employ figured mahogany veneers and flame mahogany to create visual depth across the drawer fronts.
Joinery techniques relied on dovetailed drawer construction and tongue and groove boarding for back panels. Hardware commonly featured brass handles and escutcheons secured to solid timber carcases.
The inventory encompasses periods from the early eighteenth century through to the 1930s, featuring oak, mahogany, walnut, and pine.
What varies in quality
Quality rests in the selection of timber figures, such as highly grained walnut or matched flame mahogany, and the precision of the underlying joinery. Superior examples maintain smooth drawer runs and crisp mouldings that reflect the maker's hand.
The integrity of the timber movement across deep carcases and the retention of original brass fittings distinguish high-status workshop pieces from simpler provincial utility items.
Whytock and Reid·T and G Seddon·Sir Clough Williams-Ellis·J Moorcroft
The Wooden Storage Tallboy Glossary
- Tallboy
- A tall chest of drawers, often constructed in two sections with a smaller chest sitting upon a larger base.
- Bow-fronted
- Having a convex, curved front profile that projects outward from the edges.
- Flame mahogany
- Timber cut from the fork of the mahogany tree to produce a distinctive, flickering flame pattern.
- Dovetailed
- A joint formed by interlocking wedge-shaped fingers that locks drawer corners together securely.
Wooden Storage Tallboy: Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I place a tallboy?
These tall vertical units suit bedrooms or dressing rooms where floor area is restricted. Their height allows them to fit neatly into alcoves or between windows while offering deep storage.
Ensure the room has sufficient ceiling clearance, particularly for double-tier chest on chest designs which reach considerable heights.
How do I care for mahogany furniture?
Keep wooden storage tallboy pieces away from direct heat sources and strong sunlight to prevent the timber and veneers from drying out. Dust regularly with a dry cloth and apply occasional traditional wax polish.
Avoid silicon-based sprays which can penetrate old finishes and attract dust to the carved details and drawer edges.
Are these drawers suitable for daily use?
Solid construction from periods like the Georgian and Victorian eras means these pieces remain robust for everyday clothing storage. Well-made dovetailed drawers handle regular opening and closing without dropping.
Take care not to overload deep lower drawers with overly heavy items to maintain the alignment of the runners over time.
How do I distinguish a Georgian tallboy?
Georgian pieces often display superior timber selection, such as figured walnut or dense mahogany, paired with restrained classical mouldings and bracket feet. Look at the secondary timbers inside the drawers for age indicators.
Earlier examples from the eighteenth century utilise hand-cut dovetails and period brass drop handles rather than later stamped hardware.