Unavailable|$5,578
Biedermeier Commode, 1840, Cherrywood Polished
Located in Homburg, DE
Biedermeier commode 1840, cherrywood polished - French polish - leather inlay on the writing plate
Horn, Ivory, Cherry, Leather
Unavailable|$6,646
1830s Commode from the Biedermeier Period
Located in Senden, NRW
A Biedermeier commode from 1830. Veneered with cherry tree and made of softwood. This piece has a
Softwood, Cherry
Unavailable|$6,800
Biedermeier Cherry Chest of Drawers, circa 1810
Located in St. Louis, MO
Biedermeier cherry chest of drawers, the top with book matched veneers and a black ink band, the
Cherry
Unavailable|$6,887
Restored Original Biedermeier Commode of 1830
Located in Senden, NRW
A beautiful Biedermeier commode from circa 1830. This piece has been manufactured to have a very
Cherry
Early 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Cherrywood Commode Chest of Drawers
Located in Santander, ES
Early 19th century Biedermeier commode with beautifully matched cherrywood veneers of Swedish
Cherry
Biedermeier Commode of Rare Concave Front from Early 19th Century Germany
By Karl Friedrich Schinkel
Located in Santander, ES
Outstanding and rare Biedermeier cherrywood commode with 3 drawers dating to early 19th century
Cherry
Unavailable|$5,336
1830 Biedermeier Chest of Drawers
Located in Liverpool, GB
1830 Biedermeier chest of drawers A rectangular Biedermeier chest of drawers with three drawers
Brass
Unavailable|$7,500
Small South German Biedermeier Chest
Located in Long Island City, NY
A cubical designed South German Biedermeier chest from the region of Franconia (City of Bayreuth
Cherry
Unavailable|$12,800
German Biedermeier Period Chest of Drawers
Located in Hudson, NY
of smaller height, in beautifully book-matched cherry with wood grain forming abstract swags. Drawers
Cherry
Unavailable|$4,857
19th Century Biedermeier Chest
Located in Husbands Bosworth, Leicestershire
Early 19th century cherrywood Biedermeier chest with unusual top section with tamber slide doors
Cherry
Unavailable
A fine small Biedermeier four drawer chest.
Located in New York, NY
A fine small Biedermeier four drawer chest. Cherrywood with ebony inlays and bronze pulls
Cherry
SALE Biedermeier Cherrywood Chest Commode with Vitrine Display, circa 1825
By Biedermeier
Located in Sofia, BG
Authentic elegant black line Biedermeier cherrywood chest with vitrine display, circa 1825.
Cherry
Swedish Biedermeier Cherry Wood Chest of Drawers, Ebonized Pillars, circa 1850
By Biedermeier
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely Swedish Biedermeier cherry wood chest of drawers
Cherry
Biedermeier Commode, Cherry Veneer, South Germany circa 1830
Located in Regensburg, DE
Very nice, plain, minimalist Biedermeier commode/chest of drawers. Beautiful continuous cherry
Cherry
Biedermeier Commode, Cherry Veneer, South Germany, circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
Classic, plain and early Biedermeier commode / chest of two drawers from South Germany, circa 1820
Cherry
Biedermeier Commode, Cherry Veneer, Brass, South Germany, circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
Unadorned Biedermeier commode or chest of two drawers in cherry veneer from southern Germany around
Brass
Small Biedermeier Commode, Cherry Wood, South Germany circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
Small two-doored Biedermeier Commode / Chest of two drawers from South Germany circa 1820. Cherry
Brass
Small Biedermeier Commode, Cherry Veneer, South Germany, circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
Very beautiful petite, early Biedermeier commode/chest of drawers from South Germany around 1820
Wood, Cherry
Biedermeier Commode, Cherry Veneer, Brass, South Germany circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
Beautiful, early Biedermeier / Empire Commode or Chest of Three Drawers from South Germany around
Brass, Iron
Small Biedermeier Commode, Cherry Wood, Brass, South Germany circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
Fine, small Empire / early Biedermeier Commode or Chest of Two Drawers from South Germany around
Brass, Iron
Biedermeier Saloon Commode, Cherry with Inlays, South Germany circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
Very elegant neoclassical / early Biedermeier Saloon Commode / Chest of Two Drawers from South
Brass
Biedermeier Two Drawer Commode, Cherry Veneer, South Germany, circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
Straightlined neoclassical Biedermeier Commode / Chest of two drawers from Southern Germany, circa
Metal
Biedermeier Commode, Cherry Veneer, South Germany circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
Straightlined, early Biedermeier Commode / Chest of drawers from Southern Germany around 1820
Iron
Early Biedermeier Commode, Cherry and Beech-Root, South Germany, circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
Elegant, early Biedermeier commode / chest of three drawers. The top drawer front is made of beech
Cherry
Biedermeier Writing Commode, Cherry and Ebony, South Germany, circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
Very beautiful, and sober Biedermeier writing Commode / Chest of Drawers / Secretaire Extractable
Brass
Small Biedermeier Commode, Cherry Veneer, Half-Columns, South Germany circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
Rare small neoclassical early Biedermeier Commode or Chest of Drawers from South Germany around
Gold
Cherry Wood Chest of Drawers / Writing Commode Biedermeier, Austria, circa 1830
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Fantastic cherrywood chest of drawers or writing commode from the Biedermeier period circa 1830 in
Brass
Biedermeier Commode, Cherry Veneer, Birch Inlay, South Germany, circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
Beautiful, straight-lined Biedermeier commode or chest of drawers in cherry wood with two drawers
Iron
Sold|$6,500
Biedermeier Commode, South German, 1820
Located in Belmont, MA
Biedermeier commode, South Germany, 1820, cheerywood veneer with elaborate oval shaped bronze
Cherry
Biedermeier Dresser, South Germany 1820, Cherry
Located in Belmont, MA
This pretty Biedermeier dresser dates back to 1820 and comes from the Southern part of Germany. It
Cherry
Sold|$8,500
Biedermeier Cherry Wood Chest.
Located in Hudson, NY
Biedermeier Cherry Wood Chest.
Cherry
Sold|$9,500
Biedermeier Cherry Wood Chest.
Located in Hudson, NY
Biedermeier Cherry Wood Chest.
Cherry
19th Century German Biedermeier Cherrywood Commode
Located in Dallas, TX
Exceptional 19th century German faded cherrywood commode. Gorgeous wood finish with a touch of
Cherry
Neoclassical Commode, Germany 1810-1820, Cherry
Located in Belmont, MA
beautiful cherry veneer. The two drawer commode stands on four pointed feet and has its very pretty original
Cherry
Biedermeier Chest of Drawers, Cherry, Franconia, circa 1820
Located in Greding, DE
Biedermeier chest of drawers with square legs, three drawers and ebonised columns. The front is
Cherry
Biedermeier Petite Commode - North Germany, c. 1820
Located in Kinderhook, NY
Elegant North German petite commode of cherry wood with ebonized trim and Corinthian colonnettes
Metal
Cherry Biedermeier Chest of Drawers, Southern Germany, circa 1820
Located in Greding, DE
Three-drawered Biedermeier chest of drawers on curved feet with lateral ebonised columns
Cherry
Early 19th Century Chest of Drawers, Cherry, Biedermeier, circa 1815
Located in Greven, DE
South German Biedermeier commode Bavaria Cherry tree Biedermeier around 1815 Dimensions: H
Cherry
19th Century German Biedermeier Faded Cherrywood 2 Drawer Commode
Located in Dallas, TX
Very nice 19th century German Biedermeier faded cherrywood 2 drawer commode. A fine piece that adds
Cherry
Sold|$2,950
c.1900 Swedish Cherry Biedermeier Chest
Located in BENSENVILLE, IL
Beautiful and unusual. Turn of the century, Swedish Biedermeier,cherrywood chest that actually has
Cherry
Biedermeier Trumeau Chest, Cherry Veneer, South Germany circa 1825
Located in Regensburg, DE
Very rare, small early Biedermeier "trumeau" chest/cabinet. Exceptionally rare is the concave shape
Cherry
Small Biedermeier Chest of Drawers, Cherry, Southern Germany, circa 1825
Located in Greven, DE
Small antique chest of drawers from the southern German Biedermeier period circa 1820-1830
Cherry
Biedermeier Small Furniture, Cherry Wood, South Germany circa 1825
Located in Regensburg, DE
Beautif, rare Biedermeier Small Furniture or Cabinet with sliding shutter doors from South Germany
Brass
Biedermeier Commode, Brass Capitals, South Germany circa 1825
Located in Regensburg, DE
Elegant Biedermeier Commode/Chest of Three Drawers from South Germany around 1825. The commode has
Brass
Late 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Marble-Top Chest or Commode
Located in Bellport, NY
A striking two-drawer Austrian Biedermeier chest or commode. Solid cherry woods two drawers with
Cherry
Early 19th Century Biedermeier Chest of Drawers, Cherry, Munich circa 1815
Located in Greven, DE
South German Biedermeier chest of drawers Bavaria (Munich) Cherry Biedermeier circa 1815
Cherry
Five Drawer Biedermeier Chiffonier, Cherry Veneer, South Germany circa 1830
Located in Regensburg, DE
Beautiful, unadorned Biedermeier Chiffonier / high chest or pillar cabinet with 5 drawers in cherry
Iron
Small Biedermeier Chest of Drawers, Cherry wood, South Germany circa 1830.
Located in Regensburg, DE
Small Biedermeier commode or chest of drawers in cherrywood from South Germany circa 1830. Small
Iron
19th Century Fine Biedermeier Cherry Chest of Drawers. Vienna, c. 1825.
Located in Vienna, AT
Hello, We would like to offer you this elegant, early Biedermeier cherry four-drawer chest. The
Cherry
Biedermeier Chest of Drawers in Cherry Wood, Germany, Mid 19th Century
Located in Wrocław, Poland
Biedermeier chest of drawers from Mid 19th Century. This piece of furniture comes from Germany. It
Cherry
19th Century German Biedermeier Commode, Chest of Drawers Cherrywood, circa 1820
Located in Greven, DE
19th century cherrywood chest of drawers Germany / Rhineland Cherry tree Biedermeier, circa
Cherry
Early 19th Century French Cherry Wood Biedermeier Chests of Drawers, circa 1820
Located in Berlin, DE
This beautiful Biedermeier commode was made circa 1820 in South Germany / Elsass. The chest of
Brass
Biedermeier Half-Cabinet, Cherry Veneer, Full Columns, South Germany, circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
century Biedermeier half cabinet or commode. Cherry veneered, shellac hand polished. Ebonized solid
Cherry, Oak, Softwood
19th Century Small German Biedermeier Commode light Red Brown Cherrywood, 1820
Located in Berlin, DE
This exquisite small Biedermeier commode, dating to around 1820 in Germany, showcases the refined
Brass
Early 19th Century Petit Biedermeier Cherry Pointed-Foot Two-Drawer Dresser
Located in Darmstadt, DE
sides and top are made of solid cherrywood. The chest of drawers dates back to the Biedermeier period
Cherry, Spruce
Biedermeier Chest of Drawers/ Writing Commode Nut Wood, Austria, circa 1830
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Outstanding Austrian Biedermeier chest of drawers/ writing commode in fine nut wood from circa 1830
Brass
A Late 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Marble Top Chest/Commode
Located in Bellport, NY
A striking two drawer Austrian Biedermeier Chest/Commode. Solid cherry woods Two drawers with
Brass
The authentic Biedermeier furniture on 1stDibs is representative of the first modern European decorative style not dictated by the tastes of the aristocracy. Following the Napoleonic wars, a growing, wealthy urban middle class in the German-speaking states of Central Europe began to demand rights and privileges once granted only to nobles. To avoid trouble, the upwardly striving confined their political discussions to one another’s homes. And so the salon was born.
Cabinetmakers in cities such as Vienna, Berlin and Mainz began to offer goods that reflected the tastes and needs of the new class. The makers of Biedermeier chairs, tables and other furniture used little or no gilding, silver hardware or other lavish ornament. Ebonized trims are common on Biedermeier cabinetry, and neoclassical elements — lyre-shaped chair splats, carved scrollwork, table supports shaped like Greek columns. But the strongest aesthetic statement came from the wood — richly-grained, honey-colored, often book-matched veneers of walnut and fruitwood.
There are two iconic Biedermeier furniture forms, both made to outfit rooms designed for conversation. One is the sofa, deeply upholstered with a strong, architectural wooden frame. The second is the circular pedestal table, which stood at the center of the room, offering a surface on which to place coffee and cake services; or to roll out a map, or sketch out ideas on paper.
“Biedermeier” was originally a derogatory term — it derives from the pen names of two German magazine writers who mocked bourgeois manners. Looking at the elegant and refined antique, new and vintage Biedermeier furniture offered on 1stDibs, that is now an amusing irony.
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.