The Harrington Commode, a chest of drawers thought to be crafted by Thomas Chippendale, has set a world record for a piece of English furniture.

This chest of drawers crafted by Thomas Chippendale has become the most expensive piece of English furniture (PA)

Hot on the heels of the world’s most expensive book, a chest of drawers has sold for £3.8million, setting a world record for a piece of English furniture sold at auction.

The pricey piece of furniture, dating from approximately 1770, went under the hammer for £3,793,250 during a sale at Sotheby’s in London yesterday – more than three times its estimate.

The final price exceeded the previous world record for a piece of English furniture sold at auction by more than £1 million, the auction house said.




That was held by a George II Parcel-Gilt Padouk Cabinet-on-Stand attributed to Chippendale which sold for £2,729,250 at Christie’s in June 2008.

Henry House, head of English furniture at Sotheby’s and the auctioneer for the sale, said: ‘This remarkable commode was keenly contested by five bidders, the final price demonstrating true demand in the market for items of real quality, and I feel is justly deserved for an item that has been an honour to sell.’