Bombay Company Chest
Vintage 1980s French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1980s Italian Bohemian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century Italian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century North American French Provincial Commodes and Chests o...
Brass
Late 20th Century Italian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1960s American Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1960s American Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Late 20th Century American Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1960s American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century American Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1960s American Dutch Colonial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1960s American Dutch Colonial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1960s American Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century American French Provincial Night Stands
Brass
Mid-20th Century North American Regency Dressers
Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Commodes and Chests of ...
Brass
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Mid-20th Century Organic Modern Dressers
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Walnut, Pine
20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Dressers
Laminate
Antique 18th Century Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Vintage 1960s Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Dr...
Wood
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Brass
Antique 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Vintage 1980s Indonesian Bohemian Dressers
Rattan, Reed
Mid-20th Century French French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Late 20th Century American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass, Gold Leaf
Vintage 1980s European Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Harewood
Recent Sales
Late 20th Century American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
Vintage 1980s American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1980s Italian Bohemian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bakelite, Walnut
Vintage 1960s American Dutch Colonial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century American Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1960s American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century American Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Early 1900s English Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century American Dressers
Bronze
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1990s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1960s American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1960s American Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Burl
Vintage 1980s North American Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Satinwood
Antique 1890s Great Britain (UK) Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Copper
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century Unknown Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bombay Company Chest For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Bombay Company 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.