Federal Three Drawer Chest
Antique 19th Century American Federal Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century American Federal Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 19th Century Federal Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century Unknown American Colonial Commodes and Chests...
Pine
20th Century American Federal Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Early 20th Century American Federal Bedroom Sets
Brass
Antique Late 18th Century American Federal Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
People Also Browsed
Antique Early 19th Century American Federal Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Vintage 1940s American Georgian Dressers
Brass
Antique Late 18th Century Unknown George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1760s English George III Dressers
Mahogany
Antique 1790s English Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century American American Empire Commodes and Chests ...
Glass, Cherry, Mahogany, Burl
Antique Late 18th Century Unknown George III Desks
Mahogany
Late 20th Century American Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Burl
Maple Slant Front Desk
Rhode Island
18th Century
The slant front opens to reveal a fitted interior
with a shelf...
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Desks
Antique 1810s American Hepplewhite Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis XVI Trumeau Mirrors
Gold Leaf
Antique 1750s American Queen Anne Cabinets
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century American American Empire Wall Mirrors
Mirror, Mahogany
Antique 19th Century American Federal Fireplaces and Mantels
Wood
Antique 1790s English George III Cabinets
Mahogany
Recent Sales
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Antique 1790s American Federal Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 19th Century American Federal Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 1840s American Federal Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century Federal Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 19th Century American Federal Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 19th Century American Federal Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 19th Century American Sheraton Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1830s American Federal Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Maple
20th Century American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 18th Century American Federal Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1860s French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
Antique Early 19th Century American Federal Sideboards
Birch, Cherry, Mahogany, Pine
Antique 19th Century American Federal Models and Miniatures
Mahogany, Pine
Antique Early 19th Century American Federal Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry, Maple
Antique Early 19th Century American Federal Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1880s American Federal Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century American Federal Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 19th Century American Federal Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique Late 18th Century American Federal Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Poplar, Mahogany
Antique 1820s American Federal Cabinets
Brass
Antique 19th Century American Federal Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 19th Century American Vanities
Mahogany, Pine, Glass
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Rococo Commodes and Chests of ...
Brass, Iron
Antique Early 19th Century American Federal Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Federal Three Drawer Chest For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Federal Three Drawer Chest?
Finding the Right commodes-chests-of-drawers for You
Is it a commode or a chest of drawers?
Commode is the French term for a low chest of drawers, but it is also sometimes used to denote a piece with a particularly intricate design. The commode dates to circa 1700 France, where it was used as an alternative to a taller cabinet piece so as to not obscure paneled, mirrored or tapestried walls. Coffers, or chests, which were large wooden boxes with hinged lids and sometimes stood on ball feet, preceded chests of drawers, a fashionable cabinet furnishing that garnered acclaim for its obvious storage potential and versatility.
As time passed, French and British furniture makers led the way in the production of chests of drawers, and features like the integration of bronze and ornamental pulls became commonplace. Antique French commodes in the Louis XV style were sometimes crafted in mahogany or walnut, while an Italian marble top added a sophisticated decorative flourish. This specific type of case piece grew in popularity in the years that followed.
So, what makes a chest of drawers different from a common dresser? Dressers are short, and chests of drawers are overall taller pieces of furniture that typically do not have room on the top for a mirror as most dressers do. Tallboys and highboys are variations of the dresser form. Some chests of drawers have one column of four to six long drawers or three long drawers in their bottom section that are topped by a cluster of small side-by-side drawers on the top. To further complicate things, we sometimes refer to particularly short chests of drawers as nightstands.
Even though chests of drawers are commonly thought of as bedroom furniture to store clothing, these are adaptable pieces. A chest of drawers can house important documents — think of your walnut Art Deco commode as an upgrade to your filing cabinet. Nestle your chest near your home’s front door to store coats and other outerwear, while the top can be a place to drop your handbag. Add some flair to your kitchen, where this lovable case piece can hold pots, pans and even cookbooks.
When shopping for the right chest of drawers for your home, there are a few key things to consider: What will you be storing in it? How big a chest will you need?
Speaking of size, don’t dream too big. If your space is on the smaller side, a more streamlined vintage mid-century modern chest of drawers, perhaps one designed by Paul McCobb or T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, may best suit your needs.
At 1stDibs, we make it easy to add style and storage to your home. Browse our collection of antique and vintage commodes and chests of drawers today.