The authentic Dorothy Draper España chest, the vintage version, is an iconic piece of furniture. The first lady of interior design, Dorothy Draper designed them.
The España chest was very popular back in the day, and it resulted in hundreds of “inspired” “copy-cat” “knockoffs” flooding the market seeking to capitalize on the trend.
If you want to purchase one, you will (likely) see mostly the knockoffs available to purchase. Finding the authentic ones can be challenging, and they often come with a premium price tag.
There’s nothing wrong with knockoffs and copycats as long you know that that’s what you are buying. It is frustrating that some knockoffs come with premium price tags, and their unclear description and high cost can create the impression that they might be authentic.
Below is a pair of replica Dorothy Draper chests. These were very well made. The client who sent us this pair of well-made replicas was fully aware of it.
I decided I was going to write a blog post along with detailed images to help buyers identify an authentic Dorothy Draper España chest.
Dorothy Draper’s chests are still in production. Kindel is the licensed manufacturer. We are not going to be talking about the newly made Kindel ones.
We are going to discuss the OG vintage chest, made about 66 years ago. There are nine distinct details that distinguish the real Drapers from the authentic ones. If you are in the market for one, look out for them.
1. Authentic Dorothy Draper Has Three Drawers
Three drawers and three drawers only. You may see some out there with two, four, or more. None of those are authentic. Authentic Drapers have only three drawers. The pattern repetition in each drawer creates an illusion of three separate drawers, giving a total of nine repetitions.
2. Authentic España Distinct Routed Pattern
Dorothy Draper España has a distinct routed pattern that repeats (as said above) 3 times on each drawer for a total of 9 times. Copycats have (not always) a variation of the design.
3. Solid Cherry Construction
An authentic Draper is made of solid cherry, inside and out. As you can see from a stripped drawer, the wood is cherry, including the bottom of the drawers.
4. Face Frame Is Higher Than The Drawer
The face frame of an authentic Draper has a distinct stepped and routed detail that sticks out about 0.75″. In other words, authentic Draper chest drawers are not flush with the outer frame of the chest.
It’s a minor detail that requires additional parts and exemplary craftsmanship to make it. See the difference below. It’s subtle yet noticeable if you know what you are looking for.
5. A Finished Back
The España has a finished back. That means there is no visible screw or nail on the entire piece. This makes them very versatile. They can be used even in the middle as a room divider with its back exposed.
Imagine it’s like a pillowcase with all the seams, joinery, and construction details on the inside. Not a single assembly element is exposed.
A piece of furniture doesn’t flip out like a pillowcase. Its construction requires the knowledge of fine furniture making.
Below is a picture of Dorothy Draper España’s Chest back. This one had severe water damage. We restored it to its original glory.
6. Makers Stamp on The Inside
Vintage Dorothy Draper chests will have Heritage, Henredon Heritage stamped on the bottom of the top drawer. They were licensed for production by various manufacturers; therefore, you see the variation in stamps.
7. Every Drawer Has A Unique Number
Every España drawer has a unique number, and you can find the corresponding number stamped on the inside of the chest. I am not sure how the numbering system worked. Over the years, I have come across a range of numbers on them.
8. Authentic España Has A Small Jewelry Tray
If you are purchasing a vintage chest, this little component may be missing. That’s fairly common, considering it’s a 60+-year-old piece of furniture. It’s not a dealbreaker and doesn’t diminish the piece’s value. It’s cute and definitely a well-thought-out addition.
9. Real Dorothy Draper España Has Solid Brass Ring Pulls
The ring pulls are made of solid brass. The ring has distinct features that are hard to replicate by copycat makers. This makes it almost impossible to replace a missing pull on an authentic Draper.
Notice that the ring has a taper from top to bottom. The brass backplate is made of very soft brass that bends easily. The fastening mechanism is a soft loop which is entirely different from generic rings.
Final Thoughts
As you can tell by the distinct design features of the authentic Dorothy Draper España chest, it was a piece of fine furniture. An iconic American interior designer designed it. American craftsmen with the finest quality materials handcrafted it. The devil is in the details, and most replicas don’t even come close to the real deal. Here is a blog post about its history and prominence if you want to read more about it.