I personally adore the design and aesthetic of Dorothy Draper España’s chests. We have restored many of them over the years. It’s always a pleasure to get to work on them. Here is a blog post about how to identify an authentic España chest.
A Little History of the Iconic España Chest
The Dorothy Draper España is a distinctive piece of furniture, a three-drawer chest, designed by Dorothy Draper, a famous American interior designer. The chest is part of Draper’s España Collection, was created in 1957, and it’s still considered a “classic” in the interior design community.
Here is a coral beauty imagined by talented St. Louis, Missouri-based designer David Deathridge.
Interior design wasn’t really a profession until Mrs. Draper first introduced it into the high society of New York. From then on, it spread like wildfire throughout the American upper class.
She was a prominent figure in the home design industry, so much so that when the Spanish government decided to elevate Spanish design worldwide, they commissioned Dorothy Draper to design the España collection and the famous España chest.
There are several other pieces that were/art part of the España collection. Only the España Chests have gained an iconic status.
Various Names of Dorothy Draper España Chest
Furniture aficionados and industry insiders have several names for it. It can be called España Chest, Dorothy Draper Chest, Dorothy Draper España, just Dorothy Draper, just Draper, or Bunching Chest.
If they are using any of the following words – Dorothy, Draper, España, Bunching, Chest in a two-part combination, they are generally talking about the same piece of furniture.
Distinct Features of The Draper Chest
I have written a detailed blog post on the design details of an authentic Dorothy Draper España chest here. Draper chests have routed designs with gold leafed/gilt details.
They are made of solid cherry wood. The hardware is made of solid brass. Here is a quick overview of the original, authentic España.
- Three drawers
- Distinct routed pattern with gold leaf detail
- Makers mark on the inside
- Solid cherry wood construction
- Coved face frame
- A finished back
- Numbered drawers
- Small jewelry tray
- Solid brass rings
The España chest is much copied but never replicated. For this reason, it’s highly sought after, and it is a collectible for home decor enthusiasts who can afford it, of course.
You may think that you have never heard of it or never seen this iconic piece of furniture history. Think again!
Dorothy Draper Chest in Sex In The City Movie
Here’s the famous office of Vogue magazine editor Enid Frick in the first Sex in The City Movie. If you remember, Enid talks Carrie into doing a photo shoot of couture wedding gowns for Vogue Magazine.
It’s Enid’s office where the (future) wedding starts to unravel.
Enid, who is the real-life equivalent of Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief of Vogue, has a distinct taste in design. She has 3 under her office window, looking glossy and glamorous.
Dorothy Draper chests make a regular appearance in the FX series Feud. The pair is prominently featured as bedside chests in Joan Crawford’s bedroom, in a very Hollywood Regency Decor.
Pardon the poor picture. Again, the prominence of their spot is intentional.
Final Thoughts
Dorothy Draper’s España chests are a piece of design history. Very rarely a piece of furniture is functional and a great investment as well. If you are thinking of acquiring one, I would definitely recommend it.