18th Century Mahogany Serpentine Chest with Carrying Handles
Located in London, GB
A fine mid-18th century flame figured mahogany canted cornered serpentine chest, satinwood crossbanded and boxwood and ebony strung throughout, having moulded edge top with bold oval...
Mahogany
Period English Chippendale Mahogany Chest on Chest with Serpentine Form
Located in Atlanta, GA
Period English Chippendale Mahogany Chest on Chest with Serpentine Form, ca. 1760
Mahogany
18th Century Bleached Oak Commode
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
18th C French serpentine front bleached oak commode. 1770. Reference: 7907 Dimensions 46 inches (117 cms) Wide 24.5 inches (62 cms) Deep 32 inches (81 cms) High
Oak
Late 18th Century French Painted Commode
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Late 18th Century French commode with serpentine front. Circa 1790.
Wood, Paint
18th century George III mahogany serpentine chest of drawers
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
18th century George III mahogany serpentine chest of drawers circa 1760. Fine quality serpentine shaped Georgian period chest of drawers complete with brushing slide. Top surface m...
Brass
18th Century George III Walnut Serpentine Chest of Drawers
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a mellow late 18th century George III walnut serpentine chest of drawers with rosewood banding. The top with molded edge is over two small and three large graduated drawers ...
Mahogany
French Provincial Carved Oak Commode
Located in Vista, CA
A French provincial carved oak commode, 18th century, serpentine top, the blocked case with three drawers, panelled chamfered stiles, C-scrolled apron centred by a shell, and cabriol...
Oak
Antique 18th Century Georgian Mahogany Serpentine Chest of Four Drawers
Located in Suffolk, GB
An antique 18th century Georgian mahogany serpentine chest of four drawers with an unusual and particularly elegant form, dating from the George III period. The chest has a beautiful...
Mahogany
Fine 18th Century Italian Commode
Located in Dallas, TX
Outstanding circa 1780 Italian bombe and serpentine fronted commode with shaped burl walnut inlays on three drawers with fancy bronze pulls and escutcheons.
Walnut
Antique Edwardian Quality Figured Mahogany Serpentine Chest of Drawers
Located in Suffolk, GB
Antique Edwardian quality figured mahogany serpentine chest of drawers with a brushing slide having a quality figured mahogany serpentine shape top with a moulded edge above a brush...
Other
A George III 18th Century Mahogany Serpentine Chest of Drawers
Located in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
A Fine George III Serpentine Mahogany Secretaire Chest of Drawers English, circa 1760–1770 A superb and highly original 18th century serpentine mahogany chest of drawers of exceptio...
Brass
$2,560Sale Price|20% Off
Late 19th Century Black Swedish Serpentine 4 Drawer Chest
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Late 19th Century chest of drawers painted in black. This classic Gustavian commode or dresser is a very versatile piece that works well in a foyer, living room or bedroom.
Brass
Italian Pair of Petite Serpentine Commodini w/Marquetry, 19th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian pair of small serpentine side chests, with decorative marquetry inlay, veneers, and banding, from the 19th century. These antique petite-sized chests from Italy each featu...
Wood
Antique Bleached Serpentine Fronted Chest of Drawers, English C.1780
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful commode or chest of drawers. Bleached and limed tropical hardwood.
Wood
Antique George III period mahogany serpentine chest of drawers
Located in London, GB
A very fine mid-18th Century Chippendale period well-figured mahogany serpentine Chest, having carved canted cornered edged top, above brushing slide & four graduated cockbeaded draw...
Mahogany
18th Century Carved Ash Dutch Serpentine Chest of Drawers
Located in Hastings, GB
A glorious deeply carved chest of drawers from the Netherlands, late 18th century of Ash and Oak construction, the beautiful serpentine drawers with detailed cast ormolu mounts and d...
Oak
Antique English 18th Century Mahogany Serpentine Chest Circa 1780
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English 18th century mahogany serpentine chest, circa 1780.
Mahogany
A South German 18th century commode
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A South German 18th century walnut, maple and ebony banded serpentine Apprentice's commode of small size, with quarter veneering and fruitwood stringing, the moulded top above three ...
Ebony, Maple, Walnut
$2,916Sale Price|20% Off
Early 20th Century Fruitwood Commode
Located in Martlesham, GB
A superb quality early 20th century French fruitwood commode of serpentine bombe form, having a shaped, moulded edge top above three small drawers over two long deep drawers with ori...
Fruitwood
Mahogany Hepplewhite Serpentine Chest of Drawers, England, Circa 1770
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
An 18th century George III period mahogany Serpentine Chest, having well figured and cross banded top above four long drawers with original brass handles. Flanked by fluted canted...
Mahogany
French Louis XVI Mahogany Chest of Drawers, Serpentine Front, 1920
Located in Austin, TX
French Chest of drawers/commode in the Louis XVI style with a “serpentine” front.
Mahogany
Magnificent Inlaid Mixed Wood Italian Serpentine Chest of Drawers
Located in Hopewell, NJ
An exceptional quality antique chest of drawers finely hand crafted in Italy in the 19th century, featuring an intricately inlaid top, drawers and sides with birds and dancing figure...
Satinwood, Walnut
George III Serpentine Chest of Drawers of Mahogany and Satinwood
Located in Austin, TX
A fine period George III serpentine-front chest of drawers of figured mahogany and satinwood - a hallmark of 18th-century English furniture design. Crafted in the Georgian period, ...
Metal, Brass
18th-Early 19th Century Georgian Mahogany Serpentine Bedside Chest
Located in Richmond, VA
18th-early 19th century Georgian mahogany serpentine bedside chest with molded top, canted and reeded corners and bracket feet.
Mahogany
Late 19th Century George III Style Mahogany Serpentine Marble-Top Chest
Located in Charlottesville, VA
An unusual English late 19th C. George III style serpentine-front chest of two drawers, the shaped variegated rouge marble top conforming to the serpentine outline above two long dra...
Marble, Brass
George III Mahogany Serpentine Chest of Drawers, England, Circa 1770
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A Very Good Quality 18th Century, George III Period, Mahogany Serpentine Chest, Having Superbly Figured Shaped Top With Attractive Wide Crossbanded Decoration, Over Baized Brushing S...
Mahogany
Mid 18th Century Mahogany Chippendale Serpentine Knee-Hole Chest
Located in London, GB
A fine mid-18th century well-figured mahogany serpentine knee-hole chest, having crossbanded moulded edged top above various drawers retaining original brass swan-necked handles and ...
Mahogany
18th Century French Provençal Walnut Commode
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
A lovely 18th Century French, serpentine fronted walnut commode. Comprising of two drawers with their original handles.
Walnut
18th Century Chippendale Period Mahogany Serpentine Knee-Hole Chest
Located in London, GB
A fine mid-18th century well-figured mahogany serpentine Knee-hole chest, having cross-banded moulded edged top above various drawers retaining original brass swan-necked handles and...
Mahogany
Dutch Walnut Serpentine Chest of Drawers, Baroque, Late 18th Century
Located in Viterbo, VT
Chest of drawers hand-crafted in the Netherlands in the late 1700s using walnut. The chest of drawers has a beautiful, deep and warm chocolate color. The dresser features four inset ...
Walnut
$2,883Sale Price|30% Off
Antique Large 18th Century Continental Oak & Walnut Serpentine Chest of Drawers
Located in Wisbech, England
Antique Large 18th Century Continental Oak and Walnut Serpentine Crossbanded Commode / Chest of Drawers – Fine Quality This exceptional large 18th-century continental commode is cra...
Wood
20th Century English Antique Edwardian Flame Mahogany Serpentine Chest
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
For sale is a good quality flame mahogany serpentine chest, having a well figured and cross banded top, above an arrangement of four graduated drawers, each cross banded and inlaid, ...
Mahogany
George III Mahogany Serpentine Chest, Boxwood Inlay, England, 1770
Located in London, GB
A mid-18th century George III period well figured mahogany serpentine chest, having tulipwood cross banded and boxwood line inlaid canted cornered top, above four graduated cockbeade...
Boxwood, Mahogany, Tulipwood
18th Century Period Rococo Swedish Commode
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
A period Rococo serpentine front commode with three removal drawers on the top.
Brass
18th Century Painted Blue Italian Commode
Located in Montreal, QC
An 18th century Italian commode with serpentine front and shaped sides, having two large drawers over shaped apron standing on cabriole legs ending in hoof feet.
Wood
18th Century Irish George III Period Serpentine-Fronted Chest
Located in Dublin 8, IE
18th century Irish George III period serpentine fronted chest of drawers. This gentleman’s Bachelor’s Chest is so called because it features full toilette drawers beneath a sliding ...
Mahogany
19th Century English Mahogany Serpentine Chest of Drawers with 4 Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
19th Century English Mahogany Serpentine Chest of Drawers with 4 Drawers
Mahogany
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, it is a product of the North Shore of Massachusetts circa 1780 and probably origi...
Brass
English Fine George III Serpentine Chest in Mahogany with Splayed Legs
Located in Atlanta, GA
English Fine George III Serpentine Chest in Mahogany with Splayed Legs, Early 19th Century
Mahogany
Antique Pair Italian Burr Walnut Serpentine Bedside Chests 18th Century
Located in London, GB
This is an elegant antique pair of Italian, Lombardy Milanese Ferrarese walnut, burr walnut and ebonized commodes, or bedside chests crafted in Milan, circa 1780 in date. They are ...
Ormolu
18th Century Italian Serpentine Carved-Wood Chest with Two Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian carved-wood two-drawer chest from the turn of the 18th and 19th century. This antique chest from Italy has been designed with a softly curved, serpentine-shaped body, with...
Wood
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 serpentine fronted case with four hand dovetailed drawers and solid brass batwing hardware...
Brass
Louis XV Provincial Commode In Walnut
Located in Kent, Dover
An XVIII Century French Louis XV walnut commode, with a serpentine front and five drawers.
Bronze
1820s Dutch Oak Bombe Chest of Drawers with Serpentine Design
Located in High Point, NC
This 1820s Dutch oak bombe chest of drawers showcases the graceful curvature and sculptural presence associated with early 19th-century craftsmanship. Its serpentine front, shaped in...
Oak
Antique 18th Century Quality Figured Mahogany Serpentine Chest of Drawers
Located in Suffolk, GB
Antique George lII 18th Century quality figured mahogany serpentine chest of drawers having a quality figured mahogany serpentine shape top crossbanded in mahogany above four mahoga...
Other
Outstanding Quality Antique 18th Century Mahogany Serpentine Chest of Drawers
Located in Suffolk, GB
Outstanding quality antique 18th century George III mahogany serpentine chest of drawers having an outstanding quality figured mahogany serpentine shaped top with a moulded edge abo...
Brass, Other
19th Century English George III Style Serpentine Chest in Mahogany
Located in Atlanta, GA
19th Century English George III Style Serpentine Chest in Mahogany
Mahogany
Large 18th Century Italian Rosewood Rococo Commode
Located in Bradenton, FL
A large and imposing Italian Rococo Rosewood Inlaid Commode. The serpentine top sits above a subtle bombè case, fitted with two short drawers over three long drawers, each adorned wi...
Rosewood
English 18th Century George III Mahogany Serpentine Chest with Crossbanded Top
Located in Atlanta, GA
English 18th Century George III Mahogany Serpentine Chest with Crossbanded Top, Blind Fretwork Detail and 5 Drawers
Mahogany
Antique George III Serpentine Flame Mahogany Chest Drawers, 18th Century
Located in London, GB
This is beautifully crafted antique George III flame mahogany serpentine fronted chest of drawers, circa 1780 in date. The curvaceous serpentine chest is made from the finest quali...
Brass
English 19th Century Mahogany Serpentine Chest with String Inlay and 5 Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
English 19th Century Mahogany Serpentine Chest with String Inlay and 5 Drawers
Mahogany
George III English Mahogany Serpentine Chest with Splayed Feet, Early 19th Centu
Located in Atlanta, GA
George III English Mahogany Serpentine Chest with Splayed Feet, Early 19th Century
Mahogany
Rococo Period Serpentine Carved-Wood Chest of Drawers, 18th Century, France
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French period rococo serpentine chest of drawers from the 18th century. This antique commode from France features a rectangular shaped top, with softly-rounded corners and serpenti...
Wood
$1,950Sale Price|24% Off
Antique George III Serpentine Mahogany Chest of Drawers, Ca. 1790s
Located in Peabody, MA
A fine antique George III serpentine chest, ca. 1790, with flamed mahogany drawers over bracket feet. Original brasses recently polished but remain unlacquered so will patinate natur...
Brass
18th Century Swedish Painted Rococo Commode
Located in San Angelo, TX
This commode has a serpentine front, shaped top and apron to the front and sides, and is raised on cabriole legs.
Wood, Paint
A Very Fine Early 20th Century Serpentine Chest of Drawers
Located in Dublin, IE
A very fine early 20th Century serpentine flame mahogany chest of drawers, beautifully carved with rich patination and of exceptional quality. The well figured, moulded top of recta...
Brass
Small Maltese Walnut Commode Chest of Drawers
Located in Swadlincote, GB
Excellent quality Maltese deep serpentine burr walnut crossbanded commode chest of two drawers, oak lined throughout, top quality ormolu mounts, in very nice condition throughout wit...
Walnut
$7,600Sale Price|20% Off
Handsome German Baroque Style Reverse-Serpentine Parquetry 3-Drawer Chest
Located in San Francisco, CA
The reverse-serpentine top above a conforming body fitted with 3 drawers all in a warmly-colored parquetry inlaid veneer.
Wood
$1,920Sale Price|30% Off
Antique Italian Quality Painted Carved Serpentine Chest of Drawers c.1920
Located in Wisbech, England
Antique Italian Painted Carved Serpentine Chest of Drawers, c.1920 – Quality Furniture A fine Italian painted and carved serpentine chest of drawers, dating from around 1920. Featur...
Wood
18th Century, Antique Serpentine Front Danish Baroque Walnut Chest of Drawers
Located in Odense, DK
A quietly noble 18th-century Danish Baroque chest of drawers, crafted in warm walnut and shaped by the soft, tidal movement of a serpentine front. Its presence is understated yet end...
Brass
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.
Simple or sophisticated, equipped with console, cart or custom cabinetry, these stylish bar areas deserve a toast.
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.
The furniture equivalent of a Swiss Army knife, it's the multifunctional piece you didn't know you needed.
Italian studio DimoreMilano mustered great ingenuity when crafting these sculptural shelves, which are built without any screws.
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.
Introduced nearly 500 years ago, curiosity cabinets are finding new fans among today's collectors and designers.
In the hands of New York Heartwoods cofounder Megan Offner, unwanted local trees become works of design art.
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.