Found in nearly every home today, the humble chest of drawers is a relatively new design of furniture, not produced until the late 17th century.
Due to their modest size, it wasn’t just the wealthiest who were able to afford them. Still expensive items at the time, exotic woods and veneers were used to add individuality.
During the Georgian and Victorian eras, pine was a common wood to be used. However, a large proportion of these were either painted to look like a more exotic and costly timber or they were painted decoratively such as during the regency period or the aesthetic movement.