17th Century French Commodes
Antique Late 17th Century French Louis XIV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique Late 17th Century French Louis XIV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Antique 17th Century French Louis XIII Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique Late 17th Century French Régence Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Late 17th Century French Louis XIII Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Antique 17th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Leather, Wood
Antique Late 17th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 17th Century Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Tortoise Shell, Wood
Antique Mid-17th Century English Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique 17th Century French Louis XIV Dressers
Nutwood
Antique Late 17th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Antique 17th Century French Louis XIV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Mid-17th Century French Louis XIV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Antique Late 17th Century French Louis XIV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique Late 17th Century French Louis XIV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 17th Century French Louis XIV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique Late 17th Century French Louis XIV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique Late 17th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique Late 17th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 17th Century French Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Antique 17th Century French Louis XIII Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Antique 17th Century French French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Iron
Antique Early 17th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Antique Late 17th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique 17th Century French Louis XIII Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ebony, Ivory
Antique Late 17th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 17th Century French French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Brass
Antique 17th Century French Renaissance Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 17th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 17th Century French Louis XIII Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique Late 17th Century French Louis XIV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique Mid-17th Century French Louis XIV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Louis XIV Commodes and Chests of...
Iron
Antique Late 17th Century French Louis XIV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Palisander
Antique Late 17th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 17th Century European French Provincial Commodes and Chests of D...
Walnut
17th Century French Commodes For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are 17th Century French Commodes?
Finding the Right Commodes-chests-of-drawers for You
Shopping for 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 any case 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. The term commode was also used to refer to a piece of bedroom furniture — a washstand or nightstand that contained a chamber pot.
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.
- 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 23, 2024What 17th-century furniture is called varies. The general term for all furniture produced 100 years ago, including 17th-century pieces, is antique furniture. You may also choose to be more specific and describe a piece by its style. Theatrical and lavish, the Baroque style was prevalent across Europe from the 17th to the mid-18th century and spread around the world through colonialism, including in Asia, Africa and the Americas. Baroque furniture was extravagant in all aspects, from shape to materials. 17th-century pieces from England often feature characteristics of the William and Mary style, such as crisp lines, maple and walnut veneers, inlaid bands and C-scroll ornaments. On 1stDibs, explore a variety of antique furniture.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Sir Isaac Newton invented the reflector telescope in the 17th century. He created it as a replacement for the refracting telescope, which tended to have poor optics. Find a collection of antique and vintage telescopes on 1stDibs from some of the world’s top sellers.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 202217th-century Dutch portraiture has many similarities to other Baroque paintings, including rich colors, dark shadows and intense lighting. Many famous Dutch Baroque works lean toward realism. In Dutch portraiture, props and detailed backgrounds are uncommon. You'll find a collection of Dutch Baroque paintings from some of the world’s top art dealers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022The French painters of the 19th century worked in two styles. Neoclassicism dominated the first half of the century, and Impressionism was the most common style during the second half. On 1stDibs, you can find a variety of French paintings.
Read More
The Ultimate Guide to Types of Tables for the Home
Whether you’re just moving in or ready to give your home a makeover, our guide will give you pointers on tables that are fitting for every room, nook and hallway.
What Exactly Is a Secretary Desk, and What Is It Used For?
The furniture equivalent of a Swiss Army knife, it's the multifunctional piece you didn't know you needed.
This Shelving System with Oxidized Brass Tubes Is Retro and Futuristic at Once
Italian studio DimoreMilano mustered great ingenuity when crafting these sculptural shelves, which are built without any screws.
28 Cheerful Home Bars, Where Everybody (Literally) Knows Your Name
Simple or sophisticated, equipped with console, cart or custom cabinetry, these stylish bar areas deserve a toast.
Ask an Interior Designer: Work-from-Home Edition
Leaping into a design project, whether it's refreshing the bedroom or redoing the whole house, can be overwhelming. Luckily, we know more than a few interior designers. You asked questions on Instagram, and now they're answering.
Collected and Eclectic, ‘Wunderkammern’ Are Back in a Big Way
Introduced nearly 500 years ago, curiosity cabinets are finding new fans among today's collectors and designers.
Meet the Incredible Woman Transforming Fallen Trees into Sleek Furniture
In the hands of New York Heartwoods cofounder Megan Offner, unwanted local trees become works of design art.
These New York Architects Love a Complicated Project
From Brooklyn townhouses to Maine campgrounds, Trattie Davies and Jonathan Toews relish a challenge, like transforming a former warehouse space into the new 1stdibs Gallery.