Early American Serpentine Chest, possibly Southern
Located in Richmond, VA
Early 18th century serpentine 3 drawer chest with quarter columns, original trunnel nails and
Poplar, Pine
$9,800
H 33.88 in W 38.75 in D 21.75 in
American Chippendale Birchwood Serpentine Chest of Drawers, circa 1770
Located in Shippensburg, PA
A very fine reverse-serpentine (also known as "Oxbow") chest of drawers from the Chippendale period
Brass
$3,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 33 in W 38 in D 21 in
Antique American Chippendale Serpentine Mahogany Bachelors Chest of Drawers 38"
Located in Dayton, OH
An American Chippendale Bachelor's Chest or Dresser. Made from mahogany with a rectangular
Brass
American Federal Serpentine Mahogany Commode
Located in Woodbury, CT
Serpentine case front, top front and sides. Oval inlaid medallion-centered top, of crotch and flame
Brass
Serpentine Eight-Drawer Black Dresser
Located in Bronx, NY
Wave front eight-drawer black dresser with nickel pulls, with miniature Klismos legs. The blue is the reflection of the sky.
Wood
19th Century American Serpentine Chest in Cherry with Inlay
Located in Atlanta, GA
An American serpentine chest in cherry with 3 sliding drawers, brass hardware and shaped apron. All
Brass
American Tiger Maple Serpentine-Front Chest
Located in Banner Elk, NC
Tiger maple serpentine front three drawer chest on bracket feet, American, ca. mid 19th century.
Maple
Sold
H 37 in W 42.5 in D 21 in
Antique American Empire Flamed Mahogany Serpentine Chest of Drawers or Dresser
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique American Empire flamed mahogany serpentine chest of drawers or dresser Mid-19th century
Mahogany
19th Century American Federal Serpentine Mahogany Chest of Drawers
Located in Nashville, TN
Handsome early to mid 19th century Serpentine front chest with four graduated drawers The drawer
Mahogany, Rosewood
Sold
H 37.8 in W 45.08 in D 19.3 in
Larger Serpentine Fronted Ralph Lauren American Hardwood Chest of Drawers
By Ralph Lauren
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to this lovely Ralph Lauren American mahogany serpentine fronted chest of drawers
Hardwood
Sold
H 38.19 in W 45.28 in D 19.1 in
Stunning Serpentine Fronted Ralph Lauren American Hardwood Chest of Drawers
By Ralph Lauren
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely Ralph Lauren American Mahogany serpentine fronted
Hardwood
Pair of Vintage Petite-Sized Serpentine Side Chests
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of vintage American serpentine side chests. These American chest of drawers each have a
Wood
Sold
H 50 in W 30 in D 17 in
Antique American Quartersawn Oak Serpentine Washstand Towel Bar Cabinet Commode
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique early American wash stand, dry sink or commode. Made of quartersawn oak featuring
Oak
Sold
H 31 in W 37 in D 18.5 in
Antique American Empire Flame Mahogany Serpentine Marble-Top Commode, c1860
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique American Empire commode offers shaped and beveled marble top surmounting flame mahogany
Marble
circa 1885-1915 Bench-Made Colonial Revival Serpentine Chest
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
A fine c.1885-1915 bench-made Colonial Revival serpentine chest. American. Solid mahogany with
Mahogany, Poplar
Keno Brothers Deco Style Four Drawer Serpentine Chest/ Commode
Located in New York, NY
A classic serpentine front maple veneer four drawer chest sitting on ogee feet with a glass drawer
Maple
American Chippendale Oxbow Serpentine Chest of Drawers, Massachusetts
Located in Shippensburg, PA
A rather striking chest of drawers, the oxbow is a particularly difficult form to master and added
Brass
Sold
H 37.5 in W 40.75 in D 21.5 in
Late 18th Century American Hepplewhite Mahogany Serpentine Chest of Drawers
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A handsome Federal period bureau in figured mahogany with string-inlay. The serpentine form is
Mahogany
Sold
H 33.5 in W 49 in D 23.5 in
Pair of John Widdicomb Shapely Serpentine Chest of Drawers, Circa 1960's
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of French-style serpentine chests from American furniture maker John Widdicomb, circa 1960's
Wood
Sold
H 58.5 in W 39.5 in D 20 in
Chinese Chippendale Serpentine Bow Front Flame Mahogany Tall Chest Dresser
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Chinese Chippendale Serpentine bow front flame mahogany tall chest dresser. Item features custom
Mahogany
American Serpentine Chest
Located in San Francisco, CA
A very beautiful American mahogany serpentine chest of drawers made just about 200 years ago.
Wood
American Serpentine Chest
Located in San Francisco, CA
A very elegant well figured mahogany serpentine chest of drawers made about 200 years ago. This
Wood
American Federal Serpentine Chest
Located in Norwalk, CT
Good example of a Massachusetts serpentine chest with line inlay and well formed ogee bracket feet.
Walnut, Satinwood
Late 18th Century American Serpentine Front Chest of Drawers
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
An elegant late 18th century American (possible Baltimore or Annapolis) mahogany chest of drawers
Mahogany
American 18th Century Reverse Serpentine Mahogany Chest of Drawers
Located in Great Barrington, MA
has three bold lines of inlay on the edge and is shaped to conform with the reverse serpentine shaped
Brass, Iron
Sold
H 32 in W 39.75 in D 20.5 in
American Federal Chippendale Cherry Chest of Drawers Reverse Serpentine Form
Located in Wells, ME
American Federal period reverse serpentine (oxbow) Chippendale solid cherry chest of four graduated
Cherry
18th C American Cherry Wood Commode
Located in Santa Rosa, CA
Great reverse serpentine American Chest of drawers in cherry.
Antique 19th Century French Set of Four Copper Pans
Located in Suffolk, GB
Antique Victorian French set of four copper pans of circular form having a tempered copper base, iron handles with copper rivets and hanging holes. They are heavier than the average...
Copper
$1,280Sale Price|20% Off
H 37.5 in W 42 in D 22 in
Antique American Empire Flame Mahogany Tallboy Dresser Chest of Drawers 42"
Located in Dayton, OH
Mid to late 19th century American Empire tallboy / highboy chest. Made of flame / crotch mahogany featuring rectangular form with scrolled front and four hand dovetailed drawers. Di...
Mahogany
George III Mahogany Chest of Drawers
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
George III mahogany chest of drawers, circa 1780. With a rectangular single board top with thumb molded front and side borders, two top drawers and 3 graduated lower drawers all with...
Brass
$1,200Sale Price|20% Off
H 30 in W 46 in D 21 in
Antique Victorian Eastlake Carved Walnut Burl Chest of Drawers Dresser 46"
Located in Dayton, OH
This gorgeous Victorian era dresser comes from the aesthetic period, circa 1880s. Made from walnut with three graduated drawers set between pronounced stiles with carved daisies over...
Brass
$2,880Sale Price|20% Off
H 89.25 in W 24 in D 46 in
Antique Early American Primitive Pine Farmhouse Corner Cabinet Cupboard 90"
Located in Dayton, OH
An antique early 19th century American primitive country farmhouse corner cabinet. Made of pine featuring a large 12 pane rolled glass arcaded door that opens to a blue painted inte...
Glass, Pine
$1,280Sale Price|20% Off
H 46 in W 44 in D 21.5 in
Antique American Empire Flame Mahogany Tallboy Dresser Chest of Drawers
Located in Dayton, OH
Mid to late 19th century American Empire tallboy / highboy chest. Made of flame / crotch mahognay featuring rectangular form with scrolled front and four hand dovetailed drawers. Di...
Mahogany
$1,080Sale Price|20% Off
H 68 in W 41 in D 19 in
Antique Victorian Crotch Walnut Chest Drawers Stepback Dresser Wishbone Mirror
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Victorian Era Stepback Dresser & Mirror, c. 1870s. Made from walnut with crotch walnut veneered drawer fronts. Features a wishbone swivel mirror over two gloveboxes and a ca...
Walnut
19th Century Regency Mahogany Chest of Drawers
Located in Southampton, NY
19th century Regency mahogany chest of drawers. The top is a standard rectangular shape that sits over three drawers and a pull-out tray. The chest stands on splayed bracket-shaped f...
Mahogany
$1,680Sale Price|20% Off
H 80 in W 46 in D 22 in
Antique Victorian Eastlake Walnut Burl Marble Top Dresser & Mirror Vanity Chest
Located in Dayton, OH
An American Victorian era dresser, circa 1880s. Made from walnut with a white marble top over four dovetailed drawers. Each drawer has a beautiful walnut burl veneer and ornate baro...
Walnut
$1,800Sale Price|20% Off
H 41 in W 32 in D 16.5 in
Antique American Oak Farmhouse Kitchen Pantry Ice Box Refrigerator Bar Cabinet
Located in Dayton, OH
A beautiful early 1900s Ice Chest. Made oak with a stout rectangular frame featuring three doors, original brass hardware and paneled sides. Interior is enameled with two mesh shelve...
Oak
$187,500
H 102 in W 84.5 in D 22.5 in
Exceptional 19th Century English Chinoiserie Pagoda Display Cabinet
Located in Houston, TX
Large-scale 19th century English display cabinet executed in the Chinoiserie tradition. Constructed in carved mahogany and conceived as a tripartite architectural façade, each glazed...
Glass, Mahogany
$3,900Sale Price|40% Off
H 83.5 in W 38.75 in D 22 in
Old American Mahogany "New England Block Front" Chippendale Style Chest on Chest
Located in CHARLESTON, SC
Superb quality old American mahogany "New England Block Front" Chippendale style chest on chest, circa 1910-1915. Please note hand dove-tailed, oak- lined drawers and original "Willo...
Mahogany
19th Century English George III Mahogany Chest of Drawers
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
For sale is a good quality George III mahogany bachelors chest, having a leather lined brushing slide with two brass handles, above an arrangement of four graduated drawers each with...
Mahogany
French 19th Century Louis XV Style Commode
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A handsome Louis XV style commode from France, circa 1800 or earlier. The fantastic charcoal marble top has a serpentine molded edge, conforming to the gentle undulations on the draw...
Marble, Stone, Metal, Ormolu
$17,940 / item
H 29.14 in W 116.54 in D 50.01 in
Ripple Sofa - Angular Curved Silhouette with Sculptural Wood Base-Sidani Design
Located in NEW YORK, NY
The Ripple sofa draws from the soft rhythm of water and air, vertical lines echoing ripples, pillars and sculpted silence. Its base anchors the form, while the upholstered seat float...
Upholstery, Foam, Wood
19th Century George III Mahogany Chest
Located in Charlottesville, VA
A pretty mahogany chest. It has reeded columns .
Mahogany
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.
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