George Ii Bachelors Chest
Antique 18th Century Irish George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 1740s English George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century English George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1740s English George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 1740s English George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 18th Century Irish George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique Mid-18th Century English Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
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Antique Late 18th Century English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
20th Century William and Mary Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 18th Century Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 1760s English George I Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique Mid-18th Century Danish Baroque Secretaires
Oak
Mid-20th Century North American Regency Dressers
Walnut
Antique 19th Century English Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique Late 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique Early 19th Century English George III Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Mahogany
Early 20th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Oak
Antique 1750s English George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Walnut
Antique 19th Century English Georgian Bookcases
Pine
Antique Early 19th Century English Early Victorian Commodes and Chests o...
Mahogany
Vintage 1960s American American Colonial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
Antique Mid-18th Century British Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Late 18th Century English George III Dressers
Mahogany
Recent Sales
Antique Early 18th Century English George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique Mid-18th Century English George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1750s English George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 1730s British George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Padouk
Antique Mid-18th Century British George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique 18th Century English Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 1740s English George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 1740s English George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 1720s English George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Other
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Oak
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Mid-18th Century English George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 1750s English George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique Mid-18th Century English George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 18th Century George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique 18th Century English George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 18th Century George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 18th Century English George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1760s English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 1740s British George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 1760s British George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Mid-18th Century English Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Oak
Antique Early 18th Century English George I Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Early 18th Century English George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique Mid-18th Century George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique Early 18th Century English George II Desks
Walnut, Burl
Antique 1740s English George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 1740s English George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 1760s English George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Mid-18th Century English Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 1880s English George II Dressers
Burl
Antique Mid-18th Century English George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Oak
Antique 1740s English George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique Mid-18th Century English George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 1730s English George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English George II Commodes and Chests o...
Brass
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 1750s English George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Chippendale Commodes and Chests...
Brass
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Irish George II Commodes and Chests of ...
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
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.