Black Bachelors Chest
Vintage 1970s Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Leather, Paint
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Steel
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bamboo
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Walnut
Vintage 1950s American Minimalist Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Lacquer
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Minimalist Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Lacquer
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Lacquer
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
Mahogany
20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Walnut
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Marble, Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Hardwood
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Walnut
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Hardwood
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Lacquer
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Lacquer
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Walnut
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Wood, Walnut
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chrome
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
Brass
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Paint, Lacquer, Walnut, Wood, Formica
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
Oak
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
Brass
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Table Lamps
Brass, Copper
Antique Mid-18th Century English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique Late 17th Century English William and Mary Secretaires
Lacquer
Vintage 1970s Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 18th Century English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1960s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Vintage 1950s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1940s Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1950s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Vintage 1950s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Linen, Formica
Vintage 1960s Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Silver, Nickel
Vintage 1950s American Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Aluminum
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Aluminum
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
- 1
Black Bachelors Chest For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Black Bachelors Chest?
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.
- What is a bachelor’s chest?1 Answer1stDibs 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.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A 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.
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