Biedermeier Chest High
Antique 19th Century German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Spruce, Oak, Walnut
Antique 1830s German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of D...
Pine
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Walnut
Antique Early 19th Century Austrian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of ...
Walnut
Antique Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of D...
Walnut
Antique Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of D...
Cherry
Antique 19th Century Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
Antique Early 19th Century Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Brass
Antique 1820s German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of D...
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of D...
Cherry
Antique 1830s Danish Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique Early 19th Century Baltic Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Brass
Late 20th Century German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 1830s Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Lacquer
Antique 1820s German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Cherry
Antique Early 19th Century European Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of D...
Marble
Antique 19th Century Unknown Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Giltwood, Fruitwood
Antique Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of D...
Walnut
Antique Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of D...
Walnut
Antique Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of D...
Ash, Maple
Antique 1820s Czech Biedermeier More Mirrors
Wood, Walnut
Antique 19th Century German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
20th Century German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Beech
Antique 19th Century Unknown Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mother-of-Pearl, Fruitwood, Walnut
Antique 1850s Norwegian Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 1860s Swedish Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 1870s Swedish Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 1860s European High Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
20th Century German Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique 1810s Austrian Biedermeier Dressers
Cherry
Antique Early 19th Century Dutch Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 1830s Austrian Biedermeier Desks
Walnut
Vintage 1980s French Empire Revival Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ormolu
Vintage 1980s Empire Revival Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
Antique 1820s Swedish Biedermeier Secretaires
Birch
Antique 19th Century Biedermeier Linen Presses
Mahogany
Antique Mid-19th Century German Louis Philippe Secretaires
Brass
Antique 1830s French Empire Tables
Mahogany
Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Maple, Walnut
Antique 1860s Austrian Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Walnut
Antique 1820s German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
2010s Austrian Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 1850s Swedish Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
Antique 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ash
Antique 19th Century German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Spruce, Walnut
Antique 19th Century Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 1830s German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Mahogany
Antique 1860s German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 1830s Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch, Ebony
Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Antique Early 19th Century Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 1830s German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
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Biedermeier Chest High For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Biedermeier Chest High?
A Close Look at biedermeier Furniture
The authentic Biedermeier furniture on 1stDibs is representative of the first modern European decorative style not dictated by the tastes of the aristocracy. Following the Napoleonic wars, a growing, wealthy urban middle class in the German-speaking states of Central Europe began to demand rights and privileges once granted only to nobles. To avoid trouble, the upwardly striving confined their political discussions to one another’s homes. And so the salon was born.
Cabinetmakers in cities such as Vienna, Berlin and Mainz began to offer goods that reflected the tastes and needs of the new class. The makers of Biedermeier chairs, tables and other furniture used little or no gilding, silver hardware or other lavish ornament. Ebonized trims are common on Biedermeier cabinetry, and neoclassical elements — lyre-shaped chair splats, carved scrollwork, table supports shaped like Greek columns. But the strongest aesthetic statement came from the wood — richly-grained, honey-colored, often book-matched veneers of walnut and fruitwood.
There are two iconic Biedermeier furniture forms, both made to outfit rooms designed for conversation. One is the sofa, deeply upholstered with a strong, architectural wooden frame. The second is the circular pedestal table, which stood at the center of the room, offering a surface on which to place coffee and cake services; or to roll out a map, or sketch out ideas on paper.
“Biedermeier” was originally a derogatory term — it derives from the pen names of two German magazine writers who mocked bourgeois manners. Looking at the elegant and refined antique, new and vintage Biedermeier furniture offered on 1stDibs, that is now an amusing irony.
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.