Rare 19th century Edwards & Roberts painted chest of drawers

19th Edwards and Roberts Painted Chest of Drawers – English Painted Furniture

This 19th Howards and Roberts painted chest of drawers is a rare and authentic example of premium English painted furniture from the Victorian era. Fully maker-stamped by Howards & Roberts, London, the piece retains all the hallmarks of quality cabinetmaking with four graduating drawers, original brass handles, and classic bracket feet.

The chest has been beautifully character-painted, showing a soft, time-worn patina with gentle distressing that adds warmth, texture, and depth. Its layered finish sits perfectly in country-house interiors, refined bedrooms, design-led spaces, or anywhere that benefits from a true decorative antique with English heritage.

Crafted in the mid-19th century, this Edwards & Roberts painted chest of drawers offers both stylish storage and a collectable period aesthetic.

Features

• Rare, maker-stamped Edwards & Roberts example

• Genuine Victorian 19th-century English painted furniture

• Four full-width drawers with original brass hardware

• Character-painted patina with layered age and texture

• Solid and sturdy; smooth-running drawers

• Ideal for bedrooms, hallways, cottages, and period interiors

• Provenance Story

  This 19th-century Edwards & Roberts painted chest of drawers comes from a long-established Sussex home where it had remained in the same family for several generations. According to the previous owners, the chest was originally purchased through Edwards & Roberts’ London showroom in the late Victorian period, when the family were furnishing a newly built country residence.

  The piece was positioned for much of its life in an upstairs bedroom overlooking the garden, and its gentle, time-worn patina reflects decades of careful use rather than neglect. The maker’s stamp is still clear and crisp — a testament to the cabinetmaker’s pride and the quality of work produced by Howards & Roberts during their peak years.

  As fashions shifted through the 20th century, the chest was lightly refreshed with layers of soft, characterful paint, creating the warm, lived-in surface it has today. The family chose to keep the original brass handles and escutcheons, believing they were “part of the furniture’s soul.”

  Recently acquired from the estate, the chest now enters the decorative antiques market for the first time, offering a rare chance to own an authentic, maker-stamped example of English painted furniture with genuine period charm and a traceable family history.

Condition

Good antique condition with age-appropriate wear. The character-painted finish is intentional and adds charm. Has some historic repairs. 2 replacement handles