Rare And Beautiful George I Yew Wood Chest Of Drawers C. 1720
SOLD
Hassle-free returns
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Easy returns (14 days)
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£75 flat-fee return if you change your mind (UK mainland only)
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Free return if the item isn't as described
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Buyer protection
Damage is rare, and you're fully protected if it happens.
Dimensions
Wear Condition
Good
Material
Other Wood
Style
Antique
Product Details
Description
An exceptionally rare solid yew wood chest of usable and most attractive proportions, having a a beautiful colour with rich natural patination and with barber pole inlays in ebony and holly to the top and to each of the drawer fronts.
Yew trees are evergreen and were often planted next to Christian churches to represent eternal life and resurrection. Pagans also planted yew trees in their most sacred places and early Christian churches were frequently built on these sites and the Pagan yew trees retained.
Yews are extremely slow growing and have unusual healing capacity which enables the trees to recover from storm and lightning damage. There are yew trees in the UK known to be more than 3,000 years old and in Europe some are believed to be as old as 9,000 years.
The remarkable grain and beautiful colours of yew, its density, durability and weight made it a treasured timber for the early joiners and cabinet makers but yew wood was very hard to obtain because yew trees were rarely cut down. Small branches were used - steamed and bent to make hoops and rails for the best quality Windsor chairs or sliced into veneers to add beautiful crossbandings and panels to oak and mahogany furniture.
In this chest the yew wood has been used in the solid and the wide boards to the top and side panels were cut from a very old and large tree which must have fallen or been felled. The cabinet maker has emphasised the solid timber by inlaying the barber pole stringing and the contrasts would have been far more marked when the chest was first made.
With two short over three long drawers, the drawers all run smoothly.
The steel locks are original, the small batwing handles are later replacements that have been on the chest for most of its life and are solid brass with wear and fine engraving. All the timbers including drawer linings and back boards are original.
The drawers have been lined in the 19th century with paper, still in fair order and a small piece of a newspaper visible beneath this bears the date August 31st, 1850. It was usual to line drawers with paper to keep dust out and is usual.
This is a fine quality and beautiful piece of early English furniture in very good condition with only small dings, marks and knocks consistent with age and careful use. There are some slight shrinkage cracks to the top boards which would have occurred in the first few decades after the chest was made - as the wood continued to dry out – but nothing untoward or ‘going anywhere’ and not noticeable.
A stunning and very well proportioned English Yew chest made in c. 1720. Such a treat! As rare as hens teeth and the colour is exceptional!
Dimensions are:
40.5 inches high, 38.5 inches wide, 21.75 inches deep (all max)
The internal (usable) drawer heights are: top drawer 5 inches, second drawer 6.5 inches, third is 7.5 inches and bottom drawer is 8.5 inches.
Wear Condition
Good
Cancellations
We offer free cancellations and full refund for orders cancelled before dispatching. View full policy.
Returns
We have a 14-day return guarantee for orders from individual sellers, within the UK and European Union. View full policy.
Additional Delivery Info from Seller
Estimated delivery time
One to two weeks
Free collection available
Yes
Made to Last
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Reviews
5.0
Based on 2 reviews
Wear conditions
Excellent
Shows little to no signs of wear and tear.
Good
May show slight traces of use in keeping with age. Most vintage and antique items fit into this condition.
Average
Likely to show signs of some light scratching and ageing but still remains in a fair condition.
Apparent Wear and Tear
Visible signs of previous use including scratches, chips or stains.
Please refer to condition report, images or make a seller enquiry for additional information.
Cancellations and Returns
Last updated: 12/02/2026
Clear, predictable protection for every pre-loved purchase.
Simple £75 flat return fee for UK-to-UK mainland furniture when you change your mind.
Applies to furniture with a final selling price of up to £5,000 (excluding delivery and service fees) and delivered from a UK mainland seller to mainland UK addresses. Excludes Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Scottish Highlands & Islands, Isle of Wight and Isles of Scilly.
Buying vintage should feel inspiring, not uncertain.
Every order on Vinterior is backed by straightforward returns, free cancellations, and extra peace of mind for UK furniture purchases.
1. Free cancellations
Changed your mind before dispatch?
You can cancel any order before it's shipped for a full refund, including delivery.
To cancel an order, click Create cancellation on the order page.
Once an item has been dispatched, delivery costs are not refundable.
Bespoke, personalised or made-to-order pieces cannot be cancelled.
2. Returning an item
You have 14 days from delivery to request a return.
There are two return types:
A. The item isn't as described (free return)
If your piece arrives and it doesn't match the listing in any material way (incorrect description, undisclosed damage, inaccurate measurements, misleading photos), you are fully protected:
- Free return
- The seller or Vinterior arranges pickup
- Full refund, including outbound delivery costs once the seller receives the item
This applies to all purchases.
B. You changed your mind
UK-to-UK furniture deliveries:
To make UK furniture returns predictable and stress-free, we offer a simple flat return fee of £75.
- Applies to furniture delivered from a UK mainland seller to a mainland UK address. Excludes Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Scottish Highlands & Islands, Isle of Wight and Isles of Scilly.
- Pickup arranged for you
- One clear fee, no surprises
We coordinate the return with either the seller's chosen courier or our trusted delivery partner.
All other items
Most smaller items are straightforward to return.
You can still return your item within 14 days.
- For smaller or parcel-sized items, you can choose to post the item back yourself using a tracked service, or the seller can suggest a preferred courier.
- For larger or more fragile pieces, the seller may recommend the safest return method.
- Return delivery costs vary depending on size and courier.
The seller will confirm the best option based on the item.
3. If your item arrives damaged
Damage on arrival is uncommon, especially for UK furniture deliveries.
But if something does go wrong, you're fully protected.
- Let us know as soon as possible (ideally within 72 hours of delivery) so we can resolve things quickly
- Share photos so we understand what happened
- We’ll help arrange a return and refund if needed
You’re always protected when something goes wrong in transit.
Your statutory rights apply for up to 30 days from delivery.
4. What can't be returned
Some items cannot be returned:
- Bespoke, personalised, or made-to-order pieces
- Items altered after delivery
5. How to start a return
- Log in to your Vinterior account
- Open your order
- Click Create a return
- Add notes + photos if relevant
We'll guide you through the rest.
6. What happens next
- We review your request, confirm the return and advise on next steps
- Pickup or return method is arranged
- The item is returned to the seller
- We issue your refund once the seller confirms the item's condition
Returns are completed smoothly once the pickup is arranged.
7. Refunds
Once the seller receives the piece back in the same condition it was sent, we'll issue your refund to your original payment method.
Once a refund is issued, it may take up to 5–10 working days for the funds to appear back on your original payment method, depending on your bank or card provider.
If the item is returned with new damage that wasn't present at delivery, the refund may be adjusted following review.
Need help?
If you have questions about a return or your order, our support team is here to help. Email us at [email protected] or find other ways to contact us here.
What your service fee covers
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14-day return guarantee
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Flat-fee return shipping on UK furniture
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Seller vetting
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Dedicated customer support
| Order Value (£) | Fee (£) |
|---|---|
| 0 — 49.99 | 2.75 |
| 50 — 99.99 | 5.50 |
| 100 — 199.99 | 11.00 |
| 200 — 399.99 | 21.00 |
| 400 — 599.99 | 30.00 |
| 600 — 799.99 | 40.00 |
| 800 — 999.99 | 50.00 |
| 1,000 — 1,499.99 | 55.00 |
| 1,500 — 1,999.99 | 60.00 |
| 2,000 — 4,999.99 | 82.50 |
| 5,000+ | 110.00 |
Added at checkout, based on your basket total.
