Biedermeier Semainier or Tallboy Chest on Chest of Flame Mahogany
Located in Austin, TX
A fine Danish semainier or tall boy (chest-on-chest) from the 19th century, featuring a Biedermeier
Metal, Brass
Unavailable
H 64.57 in W 40.16 in D 21.26 in
Danish Mid 19th Century Biedermeier Commode Tall Chest of drawers
Located in Santander, ES
Attractive flame mahogany Danish Biedermeier tallboy commode dating to the end of the second
Mahogany
Unavailable
H 61.78 in W 40.24 in D 20.56 in
19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Chest of Drawers Serpentine Tallboy Mahogany
Located in Newcastle upon Tyne, GB
A stunning 19th century Swedish Biedermeier flamed mahogany serpentine chest of drawers. The
Mahogany
Unavailable
H 59.49 in W 40.83 in D 20.08 in
Danish Biedermeier Chest of Drawers 19th Century Flamed Mahogany
Located in Newcastle upon Tyne, GB
An impressive 19th century Danish Biedermeier semainier tallboy chest of drawers. Boasting fine
Mahogany
Biedermeier Tallboy or Chest on Chest of Mahogany
Located in Austin, TX
A Danish tall boy (or chest-on-chest) featuring a Biedermeier-style design of flame-cut mahogany
Sold
H 43.71 in W 42.52 in D 18.9 in
Swedish Biedermeier Chest of Drawers Writing Desk Chiffonier Tallboy, Mid-1800s
Located in Lewes, England
Rare Swedish Biedermeier chest of drawers writing desk chiffonier in top grade golden birch veneers
Birch
Antique Mahogany Tallboy Chest of Drawers, Denmark circa 1840-60
Located in Round Top, TX
The mahogany veneer is stunning in this classic tall chest of 7 drawers. The highboy is built in 2 sections making it easier to move/install and rests on carved feet. This handsome...
Mahogany
Biedermeier Tallboy / Secretaire
Located in London, GB
The fourth drawer has a fold out lectern and small compartments
Birch
Biedermeier Tallboy / Secretaire
Located in London, GB
Six graduated drawers, the fourth drawer has out lectern and small compartments. Architectural facade with two columns.
Birch, Lacquer
19th Century Biedermeier Birch Tallboy
Located in London, GB
The chest has six drawers and the third drawer from the bottom pulls out to reveal a fold out lectern with black leather surface and small compartments with lift-up lids. It has blac...
Birch
Sold
H 64.97 in W 44.49 in D 20.87 in
19th Century Biedermeier Mahogany German Tallboy Six Drawers, 1830s
Located in Roma, RM
Imposing German tallboy, linear shapes, embellished with capitals, on columns, ebonized. In full
Mahogany
Sold
H 64 in W 40 in L 64 in
Antique Mahogany Tallboy Chest of Drawers 19th Century Danish Biedermeier Style
Located in Longdon, Tewkesbury
Antique mahogany tallboy chest of drawers 19th century Danish Biedermeier style. Magnificent
Mahogany
Sold
H 64 in W 40 in D 19 in
Antique Mahogany Tallboy Chest of Drawers 19th Century Danish Biedermeier Style
Located in Longdon, Tewkesbury
Antique Mahogany Tallboy Chest of Drawers 19th century Danish Biedermeier style Magnificent
Mahogany
Sold
H 61.03 in W 39.38 in D 20.48 in
Danish Mid-19th Century Biedermeier Commode Tall Chest of Drawers
Located in Lisboa, Lisboa
Mahogany flame veneer Danish Biedermeier Tallboy chest of drawers, form the 1850s-1960s. With
Mahogany, Oak
Vintage Industrial Vertical Card Catalogue
Located in Oakville, CT
Vintage Card Cabinet with 45 Drawers Overall Dimensions: 15 1/2" x 45" x 58 1/4" high Depth Excluding Handles: 14" Drawer Dimensions: 4 1/4" x 13" x 10" Materials: Steel & Brass
Brass, Steel
$3,710Sale Price|30% Off
H 32.5 in W 85 in D 28 in
Antique 19th C. American Empire Flame Mahogany Claw Foot Parlor Sofa Couch 85"
Located in Dayton, OH
Fine American Empire parlor sofa / couch with classical form and masterful carvings. Made of flamed mahogany featuring carved back crest and flared rolled arms accented with carved f...
Mahogany, Burl
Swedish Erik Chambert art deco desk, 1940
Located in Uccle, BE
A mid 20th century birch art deco desk with 7 drawers and key included. Date of manufacture stamped: 20 12 1940 Designed by Erik Chambert (1902-1988) who was a pioneering interior d...
Birch
Antique Painted Oak Flat File Cabinet in Blue
Located in Dekalb, IL
Large, antique flat file. This piece features two stacks of 5-drawer cabinets plus a third comprised of a single drawer. While the cabinet has been painted blue, with white drawers,...
Wood, Paint
$5,996Sale Price|20% Off
H 100.79 in W 90.56 in D 24.81 in
Outstanding Quality Large Antique Victorian Burr Walnut 3 Door Wardrobe
Located in Suffolk, GB
Outstanding quality large antique Victorian burr walnut 3 door wardrobe having a superior quality carved burr walnut arched shaped cornice above a single arched top, burr walnut mirr...
Walnut
Prudent Mallard attrib. American Rococo Revival Mahogany Tester Bed
By Prudent Mallard
Located in Savannah, GA
A tester bed, also known as a four-poster bed, is a bed with four vertical columns supporting a rectangular panel (the "tester") at the top, often with rails to allow curtains to be ...
Brass
Majolica Roses Plate Wasmuel, circa 1890
By Wasmuel Majolica
Located in Austin, TX
Majolica roses plate wasmuel, circa 1890. 8 inches diameter.
Ceramic
Portuguese Library Table
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Martyn Lawrence Bullard's custom Portuguese library table. The design taken from a table found in a quinta in Lisbon, the intricate turning and carved details make this piece highly...
Ebony, Oak, Walnut
Portuguese Rosewood Writing Table
Located in Greenwich, CT
A wonderfully vibrant and elaborate Portuguese writing or library table made of solid rosewood, with single plank top with gadrooned edge over two drawers with raised cushion fronts ...
Rosewood
Portuguese 19th century Rosewood and Gilt Metal coffee table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive and most handsome Portuguese 19th century Rosewood and Gilt Metal coffee table. This stunning rectangular table is raised by six toupie shaped feet leading to square bl...
Metal
$12,025
H 28.35 in W 53.94 in D 46.46 in
Extendable Antique English Dining Table in Victorian style, ca. 1830
Located in Meulebeke, BE
UK / 1830 / dining table / wood / Antique / English / Victorian Beautiful extendable molded and carved wooden dining table. Crafted in the UK around 1830 in Victorian style. This ta...
Wood, Mahogany
Sculptural 19th Century Horn Chair with Footstool
Located in Chicago, IL
A sculptural armchair and matching footstool from the late 19th century, artfully assembled from the curving forms of American cattle horns. At once delicate and dramatic, the chair ...
Horn, Wool, Wood
19th Century German Walnut Biedermeier Bench
Located in Dallas, TX
The 19th Century German Walnut Biedermeier Bench is a stunning antique piece of furniture that exudes elegance and charm. Crafted from walnut wood in the Biedermeier style, this benc...
Upholstery, Walnut
English Majolica Swan & Fishs Pitcher, circa 1890
Located in Austin, TX
Unusual English Majolica Swan & Fishs Pitcher, circa 1890. The handle of the pitcher is a swan and the pitcher is decorated with fishs Height / 8.8 inches.
Ceramic, Majolica
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.