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Antique English Bachelor's Chest
Antique English Bachelor's Chest

Antique English Bachelor's Chest

Located in New Orleans, LA

Antique English walnut bachelor's chest

Category

Antique 19th Century English Dressers

Materials

Walnut

Antique George III Style Bachelors Chest
Antique George III Style Bachelors Chest

Antique George III Style Bachelors Chest

Located in Laguna Beach, CA

Antique George III style oak bachelors chest of drawers, late 19th century. Bears shipping label of Michael Davis.

Category

Antique Late 19th Century English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Georgian Caddy Top Bachelor's Chest
Georgian Caddy Top Bachelor's Chest

Georgian Caddy Top Bachelor's Chest

Located in Greenwich, CT

A very fine George III mahogany bachelor's chest with a single board caddy top (square molded with no overhang) and a brushing slide/writing surface, over four graduated drawers with...

Category

Antique 1780s English Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

18th century bachelor chest of drawers
18th century bachelor chest of drawers

18th century bachelor chest of drawers

Located in Eindhoven, NL

This type is called a bachelor chest of drawers. Warm patina. Origin: England Period: Ca. 1780 Size: W. 84cm, D.49cm, H.79cm Typical of a late 18th century bachelor chest of drawers...

Category

Antique 1780s British George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Mahogany

Vintage MCM Burl Wood Bachelors Chest
Vintage MCM Burl Wood Bachelors Chest

Vintage MCM Burl Wood Bachelors Chest

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Fantastic vintage bachelors chest. Beautiful Burl wood grain detail and a chic simple design.

Category

Late 20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests ...

Materials

Brass

An Attractive Bachelor’s Chest of Drawers
An Attractive Bachelor’s Chest of Drawers

An Attractive Bachelor’s Chest of Drawers

Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight

An Attractive Bachelor’s Chest of Drawers This Attractive Bachelors’ Chest has four long graduated drawers, they have turned wooden knobs.

Category

Antique 19th Century Adam Style Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

George III Mahogany Bachelors Chest
George III Mahogany Bachelors Chest

George III Mahogany Bachelors Chest

Located in Chelmsford, Essex

For sale is a good quality George III mahogany bachelors chest of small proportions, the top having a moulded edge above a brushing slide, over four graduated drawers each with brass...

Category

Antique 19th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Mahogany

Vintage Red Chinoiserie Bachelors Chest
Vintage Red Chinoiserie Bachelors Chest

Vintage Red Chinoiserie Bachelors Chest

Located in Chapel Hill, NC

Vintage Red Chinoiserie Bachelors Chest with serpentine front and black gold embossed leather top Serpentine front with a vibrant red background and decorated with painted scenes of ...

Category

Vintage 1970s Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Leather, Paint

Georgian Mahogany 4 Drawer Bachelors Chest
Georgian Mahogany 4 Drawer Bachelors Chest

Georgian Mahogany 4 Drawer Bachelors Chest

Located in San Francisco, CA

An English George III mahogany bachelor's chest, the well-figured top with molded edge above 4 graduated drawers resting on original bracket feet.

Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier British Georgian Commodes and Chests of...

Materials

Mahogany

Henredon Scene One Campaign Bachelor's Chest
Henredon Scene One Campaign Bachelor's Chest

Henredon Scene One Campaign Bachelor's Chest

By Henredon

Located in Raymondville, TX

A vintage three drawer campaign style bachelor's chest or nightstand by Henredon. Oak finish with brass hardware.

Category

Vintage 1980s North American Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Pair of Brass Bachelor Chests - Commodes
Pair of Brass Bachelor Chests - Commodes

Pair of Brass Bachelor Chests - Commodes

Located in Stamford, CT

A custom quality pair of wood brass veneered bachelor chests - commode. Each ball and claw foot supporting a set of four drawers sitting under a pair of marble tops.

Category

Vintage 1970s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble

18th Century Bachelor Chest of Drawers
18th Century Bachelor Chest of Drawers

18th Century Bachelor Chest of Drawers

Located in Eindhoven, NL

Beautiful little mahogany bachelor chest of drawers from the 18th century. Beautiful aged mahogany color.

Category

Antique 1780s English Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Mahogany

Pair of 1950s LARGE Futurama Bachelor Chests
Pair of 1950s LARGE Futurama Bachelor Chests

Pair of 1950s LARGE Futurama Bachelor Chests

Located in Tarrytown, NY

Pair of 1950s Futurama bachelor chests.

Category

Vintage 1950s Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Pair of Ebony Lacquer Bachelor's Chests
Pair of Ebony Lacquer Bachelor's Chests

Pair of Ebony Lacquer Bachelor's Chests

Located in Danville, CA

Pair of Bachelor's Chests with sculptural brass pulls. The pair has been refinished in French polished Ebony lacquer and the pulls have been freshly polished and finished in clear l...

Category

Vintage 1950s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Four Drawer Mid Century  Bachelors Chest
Four Drawer Mid Century  Bachelors Chest

Four Drawer Mid Century Bachelors Chest

By Vladimir Kagan

Located in New York, NY

Four drawer bachelors chest, with figured veneer drawer fronts and brass pulls, on raised sculpted legs.

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Vintage Mahogany Bachelors Chest
Vintage Mahogany Bachelors Chest

Vintage Mahogany Bachelors Chest

By Big Rapids Furniture Company

Located in Annville, PA

This Vintage Mahogany Bachelors Chest was originally manufactured by the Big Rapids Furniture Co in New York.

Category

Vintage 1930s American Dressers

Materials

Mahogany

Italian Bachelor's Chest with Matched Grain drawerfronts
Italian Bachelor's Chest with Matched Grain drawerfronts

Italian Bachelor's Chest with Matched Grain drawerfronts

Located in Danville, CA

Italian four drawer Bachelor's Chest with vibrantly grained drawerfronts.

Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

18th Century English Georgian Bachelor's Chest
18th Century English Georgian Bachelor's Chest

18th Century English Georgian Bachelor's Chest

Located in Vancouver, British Columbia

18th Century English Georgian bachelors chest in walnut with four graduated drawers below a pull-out brushing slide, the whole raised on square bracket feet.

Category

Antique 1770s English Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

Pair of 1950s John Stuart Bachelor Chests
Pair of 1950s John Stuart Bachelor Chests

Pair of 1950s John Stuart Bachelor Chests

By John Stuart

Located in Tarrytown, NY

Pair of 1950s John Stuart shadow box bachelor chests. Needs refinishing.  

Category

Vintage 1950s Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Fine George I Oak Bachelor's Chest
Fine George I Oak Bachelor's Chest

Fine George I Oak Bachelor's Chest

Located in Greenwich, CT

Very fine George I period oak bachelors chest, the single plank top over two short and three wide drawers, all with original etched brasses. standing on bracket feet, the whole with ...

Category

Antique 1730s English George I Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Oak

Pair of Mist Blue Lacquer Bachelor's Chests
Pair of Mist Blue Lacquer Bachelor's Chests

Pair of Mist Blue Lacquer Bachelor's Chests

Located in Danville, CA

Pair of Oak Bachelor's Chests refinished in Mist Blue Lacquer with brass pulls

Category

Vintage 1950s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

George 111 Mahogany Bachelors Chest
George 111 Mahogany Bachelors Chest

George 111 Mahogany Bachelors Chest

Located in East Aurora, NY

Georgian Mahogany serpentine front bachelors chest resting on tall ogee bracket feet 1790-1800.

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Unknown George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Pair of Maison Jansen Bachelor Chests
Pair of Maison Jansen Bachelor Chests

Pair of Maison Jansen Bachelor Chests

Located in Stamford, CT

Pair of fine mahogany Bachelor Chests of drawers, in the style of French Directoire circa 1920s, each has a marble atop a conforming case fitted with two-over-three drawers with ormo...

Category

Early 20th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Early 19th Century Regency Bachelor's Chest
Early 19th Century Regency Bachelor's Chest

Early 19th Century Regency Bachelor's Chest

Located in Chapel Hill, NC

Regency, early 19th century, bachelor's chest of four graduated drawers. Reeded top & base.

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Mahogany, Pine

Pair of Founders Blonde Pecan Bachelor Chests
Pair of Founders Blonde Pecan Bachelor Chests

Pair of Founders Blonde Pecan Bachelor Chests

By Founders Furniture Company

Located in Denton, TX

Pair of Founders Blonde Pecan Bachelor Chests / Nightsands. Each chest measures 15.5 D X 43.25 W X 28.25 H

Category

Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests o...

Materials

Wood

English Chippendale Mahogany Bachelors Chest, Circa 1760
English Chippendale Mahogany Bachelors Chest, Circa 1760

English Chippendale Mahogany Bachelors Chest, Circa 1760

Located in Charleston, SC

English Chippendale mahogany graduated four-drawer bachelors chest with original brasses, side handles and bracket feet, Late 18th century.

Category

Antique 1760s British George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers

George II Period Mahogany Fold over Bachelor's Chest
George II Period Mahogany Fold over Bachelor's Chest

George II Period Mahogany Fold over Bachelor's Chest

Located in Lymington, GB

A small English George II period mahogany fold-over top bachelor's chest, circa 1750. Of good rich color and old patination.

Category

Antique Mid-18th Century English George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Mahogany

Early 19th Century Directoire Bachelor's Chest
Early 19th Century Directoire Bachelor's Chest

Early 19th Century Directoire Bachelor's Chest

Located in High Point, NC

19th century French oak bachelor's chest of drawers of the Directoire period.

Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Pair Bachelor Chests Walnut Bedside Cabinets Drawers
Pair Bachelor Chests Walnut Bedside Cabinets Drawers

Pair Bachelor Chests Walnut Bedside Cabinets Drawers

Located in Potters Bar, GB

Gorgeous pair of bachelor chests of drawers in walnut Classic Bachelors chest with single pull out at top allowing extra surface storage area One way of tracing back to the origin of...

Category

Antique 17th Century Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

Georgian Four-Drawer Mahogany Bachelors Chest
Georgian Four-Drawer Mahogany Bachelors Chest

Georgian Four-Drawer Mahogany Bachelors Chest

Located in Stamford, CT

A Georgian four-drawer mahogany bachelors chest. Wonderfully early period chest having a flame mahogany top with a satinwood banding leading to a group of two over two drawers of fla...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century American Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Mahogany bachelors chest/dresser by Paul McCobb
Mahogany bachelors chest/dresser by Paul McCobb

Mahogany bachelors chest/dresser by Paul McCobb

Located in Dallas, TX

Mahogany bachelors chest with built in vanity. Designed by Paul McCobb for Calvin.

Category

Vintage 1950s Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Early 20th Century Walnut Bachelors Chest
Early 20th Century Walnut Bachelors Chest

Early 20th Century Walnut Bachelors Chest

Located in Martlesham, GB

Early 20th century walnut bachelors chest, the hinged fold over rectangular crossbanded top with herring bone inlay, above a selection of two short over three long graduated oak line...

Category

Vintage 1920s British Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

19th Century Mahogany Four-Drawer Bachelor's Chest
19th Century Mahogany Four-Drawer Bachelor's Chest

19th Century Mahogany Four-Drawer Bachelor's Chest

Located in Banner Elk, NC

Mahogany bachelor's chest, the top a single solid board of mahogany, above a brushing slide, above four graduated drawers, on bracket feet, English, circa 1820.

Category

Antique 1820s English Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Mahogany

Pair of Mahogany Bachelor’s Chests
Pair of Mahogany Bachelor’s Chests

Pair of Mahogany Bachelor’s Chests

Located in Cheshire, GB

A fine matching pair of mahogany bachelor’s chests, each with four graduated drawers and a pull-out brushing or writing slide above.

Category

Early 20th Century British Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

George III Mahogany Bachelors Chest, circa 1800
George III Mahogany Bachelors Chest, circa 1800

George III Mahogany Bachelors Chest, circa 1800

Located in Atlanta, GA

The George III mahogany bachelors chest with rectangular top and moulded edge above 4 drawers with brass pulls and backplate.

Category

Antique Early 19th Century English George III Commodes and Chests of Dra...

Materials

Brass

Modern Leather Wrapped Marble Top Bachelor Chest
Modern Leather Wrapped Marble Top Bachelor Chest

Modern Leather Wrapped Marble Top Bachelor Chest

Located in Clarksboro, NJ

This listing is for a Modern Leather Wrapped Bachelor Chest. Featuring a beautiful tobacco colored leather, three drawers for storage, ivory marble top, and lucite pulls.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Commodes and Chests of Dra...

Materials

Marble

18th-c. Walnut Queen Anne Bachelor's Chest
18th-c. Walnut Queen Anne Bachelor's Chest

18th-c. Walnut Queen Anne Bachelor's Chest

Located in High Point, NC

Lovely Queen Anne bachelor's chest made of Walnut. Fantastic figured wood on top and drawer fronts.

Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Queen Anne Commodes and Chests ...

Materials

Walnut

George III Mahogany Four Drawer  Bachelor's Chest
George III Mahogany Four Drawer  Bachelor's Chest

George III Mahogany Four Drawer Bachelor's Chest

Located in Montreal, QC

George III mahogany four drawer bachelor's chest with four graduated drawers, all with cockbeaded banding, and fitted with swan's neck pulls, raised on stepped shaped bracket feet.

Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

1980's Campaign Style Bachelor Chest of Drawers
1980's Campaign Style Bachelor Chest of Drawers

1980's Campaign Style Bachelor Chest of Drawers

By Hickory Chair Furniture Company

Located in Southampton, NJ

Campaign style Bachelors chest with four cock beaded dovetailed drawers boasting fiery Mahogany grains.

Category

20th Century American Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Circa 1770 George III Bachelor's Chest of Drawers
Circa 1770 George III Bachelor's Chest of Drawers

Circa 1770 George III Bachelor's Chest of Drawers

Located in Chapel Hill, NC

Circa 1770 George III bachelor's chest of drawers, English. Well figured mahogany with oak secondary wood.

Category

Antique Late 18th Century English Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Dra...

Materials

Wood, Oak

Early Georgian Walnut Flip-Top Bachelor's Chest
Early Georgian Walnut Flip-Top Bachelor's Chest

Early Georgian Walnut Flip-Top Bachelor's Chest

Located in San Francisco, CA

A good George I period walnut bachelor's chest, the folding cross and feather-banded top with moulded edge and cut corners above four graduated drawers on bracket feet.

Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

Pair Cerused Oak Bachelor Chests Dressers by Mengel
Pair Cerused Oak Bachelor Chests Dressers by Mengel

Pair Cerused Oak Bachelor Chests Dressers by Mengel

Located in Rockaway, NJ

Pair of matching highly decorative bachelor chests by Mengel.

Category

Vintage 1950s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Pair of Mahogany Bachelor's Chests by Kittinger
Pair of Mahogany Bachelor's Chests by Kittinger

Pair of Mahogany Bachelor's Chests by Kittinger

By Kittinger

Located in Stamford, CT

Pair of mahogany Bachelor's chests, circa 1950s, each has a rectangular top over a conforming case fitted with four drawers, decorated with brass loop pulls, stamped Kittinger Buffal...

Category

Vintage 1950s American Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

18th Century Bachelor Chest of Drawers
18th Century Bachelor Chest of Drawers

18th Century Bachelor Chest of Drawers

Located in Eindhoven, NL

Origin: England Period: Approx. 1760 Size: Bro. 92cm, D.44cm, H.89cm Typical of a late 18th century Bachelor's chest of drawers is the pull-out leaf at the top.

Category

Antique Mid-18th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Mahogany

Early 18th Century Mahogany Bachelor's Chest
Early 18th Century Mahogany Bachelor's Chest

Early 18th Century Mahogany Bachelor's Chest

Located in Martlesham, GB

A superb quality early 18th Century mahogany bachelor’s chest of drawers, the solid hinged rectangular fold over top to reveal a wooden writing surface supported on pull out rectangu...

Category

Antique 1740s British George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Mahogany

20th Century Burl Elm Bachelor's Chest
20th Century Burl Elm Bachelor's Chest

20th Century Burl Elm Bachelor's Chest

Located in High Point, NC

Handmade bachelor's chest made in England from burl elm. The top has satinwood banded inlay and a beveled edge, following down to two drawers over three drawers.

Category

Late 20th Century English Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Burl, Elm

Pair of Georgian Style Bachelor Chests Commodes
Pair of Georgian Style Bachelor Chests Commodes

Pair of Georgian Style Bachelor Chests Commodes

Located in Stamford, CT

A pair of Georgian style bachelor chests commodes. A pair of baker commode nightstand chests.

Category

Vintage 1960s American Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Elegant Pair of Bachelor's Chests with Brass Pulls
Elegant Pair of Bachelor's Chests with Brass Pulls

Elegant Pair of Bachelor's Chests with Brass Pulls

By Henredon

Located in Danville, CA

Pair of mahogany bachelor's chests with gilt trim and polished brass drop handles.

Category

Vintage 1950s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Pair of Sheraton Style Mahogany Bachelor's Chests
Pair of Sheraton Style Mahogany Bachelor's Chests

Pair of Sheraton Style Mahogany Bachelor's Chests

Located in Stamford, CT

Pair of Sheraton style mahogany bachelor's chests of drawers, serpetine top with burled banding over a narrow pull-out slide and a conforming case fitted with four burled drawers, ra...

Category

Early 20th Century American Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Pair of Black Lacquer Bachelor Chests Dressers Oriental
Pair of Black Lacquer Bachelor Chests Dressers Oriental

Pair of Black Lacquer Bachelor Chests Dressers Oriental

By Davis Cabinet Company

Located in Rockaway, NJ

Pair of very nice mid century modern bachelor chest dressers. Medium gloss lacquer finish.

Category

Vintage 1960s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Fantastic George III Mahogany Bachelor's Chest
Fantastic George III Mahogany Bachelor's Chest

Fantastic George III Mahogany Bachelor's Chest

Located in Hopewell, NJ

George III Mahogany Bachelor’s Chest, circa 1780, the overhanging canted top above four graduated cock beaded drawers retaining their original brasses, the top drawer fitted with dus...

Category

Antique 1780s French George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Pair of Georgian Style Walnut Bachelor Chests
Pair of Georgian Style Walnut Bachelor Chests

Pair of Georgian Style Walnut Bachelor Chests

Located in Pomona, CA

A pair of walnut bachelor chests with figured walnut tops. Pull-out brushing slides to each chest.

Category

Late 20th Century American Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Mid-Century Danish Modern Teak Bachelor Chest
Mid-Century Danish Modern Teak Bachelor Chest

Mid-Century Danish Modern Teak Bachelor Chest

Located in Clarksboro, NJ

This listing is for a Mid-Century Danish Modern Teak Bachelor Chest. Featuring a straight line design, four drawers for storage, plinth base, and a beautiful teak finish.

Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood, Teak

Pair of Mahogany Bachelor Chests John Stuart
Pair of Mahogany Bachelor Chests John Stuart

Pair of Mahogany Bachelor Chests John Stuart

Located in Stamford, CT

A finely polished pair of chipendale style bachelor chests. Custom quality by John Stuart. The double S front curved sides of solid mahogany, the top drawer smaller than the lower th...

Category

Vintage 1940s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Johnson Mid Century Modern Cherry Bachelor Chest Dresser
Johnson Mid Century Modern Cherry Bachelor Chest Dresser

Johnson Mid Century Modern Cherry Bachelor Chest Dresser

Located in Rockaway, NJ

Very nice cherry bachelor chest of drawers made by Johnson furniture and possibly designed by Paul Frankl.

Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Cherry, Walnut

Baker Furniture Georgian Banded Mahogany Bachelor Chest
Baker Furniture Georgian Banded Mahogany Bachelor Chest

Baker Furniture Georgian Banded Mahogany Bachelor Chest

By Baker Furniture Company

Located in South Bend, IN

An exceptional four-drawer Georgian bachelor chest By Baker Furniture USA, circa 1980s Book-matched mahogany, with satinwood banding and brass hardware.

Category

Late 20th Century American Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Early 18th Century Walnut Bachelors Chest, English
Early 18th Century Walnut Bachelors Chest, English

Early 18th Century Walnut Bachelors Chest, English

Located in London, GB

A fine early 18th century walnut bachelors chest of good color with the unusual feature of two small drawers to each side, three graduated drawers to the front with writing slope ter...

Category

Antique Early 18th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

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Bachelor Chest For Sale on 1stDibs

Choose from an assortment of styles, material and more with respect to the bachelor chest you’re looking for at 1stDibs. Each bachelor chest for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using wood, metal and mahogany. Find 610 options for an antique or vintage bachelor chest now, or shop our selection of 4 modern versions for a more contemporary example of this long-cherished piece. Your living room may not be complete without a bachelor chest — find older editions for sale from the 18th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 21st Century. When you’re browsing for the right bachelor chest, those designed in Mid-Century Modern, Georgian and Hollywood Regency styles are of considerable interest. Many designers have produced at least one well-made bachelor chest over the years, but those crafted by Baker Furniture Company, Drexel and Henredon are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much is a Bachelor Chest?

Prices for a bachelor chest start at $10 and top out at $64,500 with the average selling for $3,400.

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.

Questions About Bachelor Chest
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    A bachelor’s chest of drawers is a relatively short and shallow chest, usually with three or four drawers. The name refers to their historical use as multi-purpose, space-saving fixtures that are perfect for a bachelor sharing a friend’s flat. On 1stDibs, you’ll find a collection of antique and modern bachelor’s chests from some of the world’s top sellers.
  • 1stDibs ExpertJanuary 23, 2019

    A bachelor’s chest is a low chest of drawers. Its name comes from the fact that it was originally designed to provide multipurpose storage for a single man with a small living space.

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