She Bought an Antique Mahogany Dresser to Paint Blue but Found Something From 1924 Inside
Dark brown mahogany covered this tall antique dresser, with curved drawer fronts, ornate brass handles, and carved feet. The wood showed scratches and missing molding, but the chest still had its original shape and storage.
Kate from Heir and Space found the dresser on Craigslist and brought it to her workshop for refinishing. When she removed the drawers, she discovered several objects left behind by a former owner, including two pocket knives, old coins, and an inscription dating back to 1924.
One knife carried a name, a date, and a Masonic symbol, giving the chest a connection to someone who may have owned it a century ago. The discovery became part of the story behind a makeover that would turn the brown mahogany into a deep blue dresser.
Dark Mahogany Covered the Tall Chest
Two wide drawers occupied the upper section, with three smaller compartments across the middle and two more wide drawers beneath them. Curved fronts, brass drop handles, and carved trim gave the chest its antique profile.
Damage along the molding needed repair before painting. Kate estimated that the piece dated from around 1920 to 1930, based on its construction and the objects found inside.
Two Pocket Knives Were Hidden Inside the Drawers
Removing the drawers revealed a 1964 penny, an old shekel, and two antique pocket knives. One knife was made of sterling silver and carried an inscription identifying Emanuel S. Berkowitz.
The engraving included December 6, 1924, along with a Masonic emblem and the word “Master.” The objects offered a clue about the dresser’s past, though they did not establish who built the chest or when it was purchased.
Kate planned to pass the discoveries along with the restored dresser rather than separate them from the furniture.
Original Brass Pulls Were Worth Saving
Ornate brass handles featured ribbon-like bows at both ends, with curved grips decorated by raised patterns. Their darkened finish had concealed much of the metalwork.
Kate polished the original pulls instead of replacing them. The cleaning brought back their gold color, preserving the hardware that had accompanied the mahogany drawers.
London Sky Blue Replaced the Brown Finish
Deep blue paint covered the dresser’s case, drawer fronts, carved legs, and molding. Kate custom-mixed the shade after seeing a friend’s photograph of the London skyline on a sunny winter day.
She named the color London Sky. Its blue tone changed the chest without removing the curved drawers or the carved details that gave the piece its original character.
Sanding Exposed Brown Wood Beneath the Blue
Brown marks appear along the drawer edges, molding, and carved corners, interrupting the painted surface. The distressed finish leaves traces of the original wood visible against London Sky blue.
Polished brass handles stand out across the drawer fronts, with their bow-shaped mounts and patterned grips now visible against the new color.
Mahogany Remained Visible Across the Top
Rather than painting the top blue, Kate sanded, stained, and sealed the mahogany surface. Its brown grain remained visible beneath the finish.
The dark top contrasts with the painted case and preserves a section of the wood that once covered the entire dresser.
Small Drawers Kept Their Original Details
Three compartments divide the middle section, with brass bow pulls on the outer drawers and a ring pull at the center. Beaded molding surrounds the middle panel, while carved corner details frame the row.
Distressing follows the edges and raised trim, exposing narrow brown lines that make the drawer construction visible beneath the blue.
The Finished Chest Kept Its Antique Shape
London Sky blue now covers the tall dresser, with gold hardware across the drawers and brown mahogany remaining on top. The curved upper section, carved lower apron, and turned feet stayed in place.
The finished piece stands beneath a landscape painting, with a glass pitcher, yellow bottle, and silver bowl holding green glass floats arranged across its top.
From the side, the two stacked sections and their curved profiles remain visible. Brown distressing follows the drawer edges and molding, while the original brass pulls connect the new finish to the chest’s past.
Side-by-side images show the same mahogany chest before and after its London Sky blue makeover. The curved drawers, carved base, and original brass handles remain, while the brown finish gives way to blue paint with exposed wood along the edges.
Kate called it one of her favorite projects after refinishing more than 1,000 pieces. She also intended for the objects found inside, including the pocket knife engraved with Emanuel S. Berkowitz’s name and the date December 6, 1924, to stay with the chest when it went to its next home.
Would you have painted this antique dresser London Sky blue, or kept the original mahogany finish? And if you found objects from 1924 inside, would you keep them with the dresser?
Image credits go to @heirandspace