The tall chest, also commonly referred to as a tallboy or in some cases a highboy, the chest originally began as a chest with just one drawer.
By the late 1600's during the reign of Charles II, it became known as the chest of drawers. A chest from this era would have had knobs rather than handles and often there was a low platform to keep it raised off the floor and away from any moisture or vermin. The chest continued to evolve gradually into larger proportions with more decorative detailing rather than the plain front. The drawers could run bottom to top or in some cases the top of the chest opened like a cupboard.
The tall chest over time grew so high that a stool was required to reach the highest drawers. This model birthed many other chest designs by the 17th century, so that they were ornately detailed with ivory and mother of pearl.
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The 18th century introduced the chest to the Chinese influence resulting in rearranged and irregularly placed drawers. The Hepplewhite, the most common tall chest found in auction houses now, is a simple piece suitable when floor space is at a premium.
Antique dealers have been known to say that refinishing an authentic chest will greatly reduce the value of the piece. Even a piece worn and damaged by time may be quite valuable, but if the original surface is refinished can be reduced to as low as one-fourth what would be possible if left alone.
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