19c Commode
Antique 1890s French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique Late 19th Century Dutch Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique 19th Century Swedish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Antique 19th Century Swedish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Bronze
Antique Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of D...
Walnut
Antique Mid-18th Century French Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
Antique 1740s French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
Late 20th Century American Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 19th Century English George IV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique Early 1800s English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of D...
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century French Empire Revival Bedroom Sets
Ormolu
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Ormolu
Antique 16th Century French Renaissance Armchairs
Walnut
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2010s Italian Console Tables
Carrara Marble
Vintage 1940s Italian Baroque Revival Cupboards
Velvet, Mirror, Burl, Walnut
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Antique 19th Century European Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Early 20th Century French Vanities
Walnut
Vintage 1910s Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Paintings
Wood, Giltwood, Paint
Antique 1890s Danish Other Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass, Iron
Antique 1880s French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Baroque Revival Cabinets
Walnut
Antique Late 18th Century Scandinavian Gustavian Commodes and Chests of ...
Pine
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Marble, Brass
Early 20th Century Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass, Bronze
Antique 17th Century Spanish Baroque Blanket Chests
Walnut
Recent Sales
Antique 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
Antique 19th Century British Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of D...
Wood
Early 20th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 19th Century European Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Antique 19th Century British Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 19th Century Brazilian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Antique Mid-19th Century Louis XV Wall Lights and Sconces
Bronze, Ormolu
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique 19th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 19th Century Swedish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century German Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique 19th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century Indian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 19th Century Dutch Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique 19th Century Swedish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Antique 19th Century Swedish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century Swedish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Antique 19th Century Swedish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Antique 19th Century Swedish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Antique 19th Century American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Maple
Antique 19th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century English Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Early 20th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Oak
20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique Late 19th Century Colonial Revival Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Poplar
Vintage 1950s European Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chrome
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chrome
Antique 1870s Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique Mid-19th Century Danish Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Queen Anne Commodes and Chests...
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Wardrobes and Armoires
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 19th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
19c Commode For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a 19c Commode?
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.
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