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Antique Louis Philippe Chest of Drawers with Wood Top
Antique Louis Philippe Chest of Drawers with Wood Top

Antique Louis Philippe Chest of Drawers with Wood Top

Located in Dallas, TX

A handsome example of the Louis Philippe four-drawer bleached walnut chest. Note the beautiful

Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of ...

Materials

Wood

Dresser by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings
Dresser by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings

Dresser by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings

By T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings

Located in Dallas, TX

A bleached walnut chest of drawers with cane wrapped handles and brass legs. Designed by T.H

Category

Vintage 1950s Dressers

Italian Bleached Walnut Carlo X Chest Of Drawers / Dresser
Italian Bleached Walnut Carlo X Chest Of Drawers / Dresser

Italian Bleached Walnut Carlo X Chest Of Drawers / Dresser

Located in Carmine, TX

dovetail joints. The entire chest is decorated with book-matched walnut burl veneer that has been bleached

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Italian Charles X Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

French Bleached Walnut Commode
French Bleached Walnut Commode

French Bleached Walnut Commode

Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire

Early 19th C French bleached walnut Empire commode with a marble top. 1850. Reference: 8214

Category

Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

18th Century Italian Neoclassical Bleached Walnut Commode / Chest of Drawers
18th Century Italian Neoclassical Bleached Walnut Commode / Chest of Drawers

18th Century Italian Neoclassical Bleached Walnut Commode / Chest of Drawers

Located in Carmine, TX

process of bleaching the wood. In fact, all the natural colors of the grain of the walnut are highlighted

Category

Antique Mid-18th Century Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Dra...

Materials

Walnut

French Bleached Walnut Commode
French Bleached Walnut Commode

French Bleached Walnut Commode

Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire

Early 19th C French bleached walnut Empire commode with a marble top. 1850. Reference: 8214

Category

Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

French Bleached Walnut Commode
French Bleached Walnut Commode

French Bleached Walnut Commode

Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire

19th C French bleached walnut 3 drawer commode in a Neo-classical style. 1840. Reference: 7706

Category

Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

19th Century Italian Empire Chest of Drawers in Bleached Walnut
19th Century Italian Empire Chest of Drawers in Bleached Walnut

19th Century Italian Empire Chest of Drawers in Bleached Walnut

Located in Carmine, TX

Chest of drawers hand-made in Italy in the early 1800s using cherry and pegged construction. The

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Italian Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

19th Century French Regency Chest of Drawers in Bleached Walnut
19th Century French Regency Chest of Drawers in Bleached Walnut

19th Century French Regency Chest of Drawers in Bleached Walnut

Located in Carmine, TX

Chest of drawers hand-made in France in the early 1800 using walnut. The chest presents a beautiful

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Italian Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

19th Century Bleached Italian Walnut Charles X Commode / Chest of Drawers
19th Century Bleached Italian Walnut Charles X Commode / Chest of Drawers

19th Century Bleached Italian Walnut Charles X Commode / Chest of Drawers

Located in Carmine, TX

Charles X chest of drawers hand-made in Italy in the early 1800s using walnut. This is a

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Italian Charles X Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

19th Century Italian Empire Chest of Drawers / Dresser in Bleached Walnut
19th Century Italian Empire Chest of Drawers / Dresser in Bleached Walnut

19th Century Italian Empire Chest of Drawers / Dresser in Bleached Walnut

Located in Carmine, TX

Empire chest of drawers hand-made in Italy in the early 1800s using walnut. The dresser features

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Italian Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

18th Century Italian Neoclassical Bleached Walnut Commode/Chest
18th Century Italian Neoclassical Bleached Walnut Commode/Chest

18th Century Italian Neoclassical Bleached Walnut Commode/Chest

Located in Carmine, TX

Neoclassical commode hand-made in Italy in the late 1700s using pine and decorated with walnut

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Satin, Walnut, Pine

19th Century Italian Bleached Walnut Louis Philippe Commode / Chest of Drawers
19th Century Italian Bleached Walnut Louis Philippe Commode / Chest of Drawers

19th Century Italian Bleached Walnut Louis Philippe Commode / Chest of Drawers

Located in Carmine, TX

Louis Philippe chest hand-made in Italy in the early 1800s using walnut. As typical with the style

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Italian Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of...

Materials

Walnut

19th Century Bleached Walnut Burl French Louis Philippe Chest Of Drawers
19th Century Bleached Walnut Burl French Louis Philippe Chest Of Drawers

19th Century Bleached Walnut Burl French Louis Philippe Chest Of Drawers

Located in Viterbo, VT

decorated with walnut burl veneer. The chest of drawers follows the typical Louis Philippe lines, with a top

Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of ...

Materials

Walnut

19th Century Spanish Bleached Walnut Four-Drawer Chest with White Marble Top
19th Century Spanish Bleached Walnut Four-Drawer Chest with White Marble Top

19th Century Spanish Bleached Walnut Four-Drawer Chest with White Marble Top

Located in Round Top, TX

This walnut chest has been bleach raw. It originated in Spain from about the 1870s or Restoration

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Spanish Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble

19th Century Italian Bleached Walnut Carlo X Chest of Drawers / Commode
19th Century Italian Bleached Walnut Carlo X Chest of Drawers / Commode

19th Century Italian Bleached Walnut Carlo X Chest of Drawers / Commode

Located in Viterbo, VT

has very contemporary lines and the bleached walnut veneer provide it with beautiful decoration and

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Italian Charles X Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

17th Century English Bleached Oak and Walnut Jacobean Chest of Drawers
17th Century English Bleached Oak and Walnut Jacobean Chest of Drawers

17th Century English Bleached Oak and Walnut Jacobean Chest of Drawers

Located in Carmine, TX

Chest of drawers hand-made in England in the late 1700s using oak for the case and walnut burl

Category

Antique Late 17th Century English Jacobean Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Oak, Walnut

Baker Bleached Walnut Campaign Commode
Baker Bleached Walnut Campaign Commode

Baker Bleached Walnut Campaign Commode

By Baker Furniture Company

Located in Chicago, IL

Baker bleached walnut four-drawer Campaign style commode. Brass corner guard detailing and brass

Category

Vintage 1960s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

18th Century Bleached Walnut Commode
18th Century Bleached Walnut Commode

18th Century Bleached Walnut Commode

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Commode, of bleached walnut with a pickled finish, having a rectangular molded top on conforming

Category

Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

18th Century Italian Bleached Walnut Serpentine Front Commode / Chest of Drawers
18th Century Italian Bleached Walnut Serpentine Front Commode / Chest of Drawers

18th Century Italian Bleached Walnut Serpentine Front Commode / Chest of Drawers

Located in Carmine, TX

Chest of drawers hand-made in Italy in the mid 1700s using walnut and decorated by satin wood inlay

Category

Antique Early 18th Century Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

Vignola Furniture Bleached Walnut & Brass Five Drawer Tall Chest
Vignola Furniture Bleached Walnut & Brass Five Drawer Tall Chest

Vignola Furniture Bleached Walnut & Brass Five Drawer Tall Chest

Located in Chicago, IL

Tall five drawer commode from Vignola Furniture, Chicago,Il. Bleached walnut case and drawer fronts

Category

Vintage 1950s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

18th Century Italian Bleached Walnut Commode / Chest of Drawer With Burl Veneer
18th Century Italian Bleached Walnut Commode / Chest of Drawer With Burl Veneer

18th Century Italian Bleached Walnut Commode / Chest of Drawer With Burl Veneer

Located in Viterbo, VT

Neoclassical commode hand-made in Italy in the late 1700s using oak and decorated with walnut

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Dr...

Materials

Walnut

18th Century Italian Bleached Walnut Commode / Chest of Drawer With Burl Veneer
18th Century Italian Bleached Walnut Commode / Chest of Drawer With Burl Veneer

18th Century Italian Bleached Walnut Commode / Chest of Drawer With Burl Veneer

Located in Carmine, TX

Neoclassical commode hand-made in Italy in the late 1700s using oak and decorated with walnut

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Dr...

Materials

Walnut

18th Century Italian Bleached Walnut Canterano Chest of Drawers
18th Century Italian Bleached Walnut Canterano Chest of Drawers

18th Century Italian Bleached Walnut Canterano Chest of Drawers

Located in Carmine, TX

Chest of Drawers (Canterano) hand-made in the region of Piedmont in Northern Italy in the early

Category

Antique 18th Century Rustic Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

18th Century French Bleached Walnut Commode
18th Century French Bleached Walnut Commode

18th Century French Bleached Walnut Commode

Located in Dallas, TX

Very fine 18th century French bleached walnut commode with bronze hardware. The piece has some nice

Category

Antique Late 18th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

Antique Italian Bleached Walnut Commode / Chest of Drawers With Inlay, Ca. 1810
Antique Italian Bleached Walnut Commode / Chest of Drawers With Inlay, Ca. 1810

Antique Italian Bleached Walnut Commode / Chest of Drawers With Inlay, Ca. 1810

Located in Viterbo, VT

Chest of drawers hand-made in the Emilia region Italy in the early 1800s using walnut and decorated

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Italian Rustic Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

18th Century Bleached Walnut Serpentine Commode
18th Century Bleached Walnut Serpentine Commode

18th Century Bleached Walnut Serpentine Commode

Located in Chireno, TX

18th century bleached walnut serpentine commode. Three-drawer Italian commode. Constructed in

Category

Antique Mid-18th Century Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

18th Century Bleached French Walnut Louis XVI Chest of Drawers / Commode
18th Century Bleached French Walnut Louis XVI Chest of Drawers / Commode

18th Century Bleached French Walnut Louis XVI Chest of Drawers / Commode

Located in Carmine, TX

. The chest of drawers was bleached, bringing out the beautiful grain of the walnut. The bleached color

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

Baker Bleached Walnut Campaign Commode
Baker Bleached Walnut Campaign Commode

Baker Bleached Walnut Campaign Commode

By Baker Furniture Company

Located in Chicago, IL

Baker bleached walnut four-drawer campaign style commode. Brass corner guard detailing and brass

Category

Vintage 1950s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

18th Century Bleached Italian Walnut Nighstand with Drawers
18th Century Bleached Italian Walnut Nighstand with Drawers

18th Century Bleached Italian Walnut Nighstand with Drawers

Located in Carmine, TX

Neoclassical nightstand handmade in Italy in the mid to late 1700s using walnut. The nightstand has

Category

Antique Mid-18th Century Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Dra...

Materials

Walnut

18th Century Bleached Italian Walnut Louis XVI Commode
18th Century Bleached Italian Walnut Louis XVI Commode

18th Century Bleached Italian Walnut Louis XVI Commode

Located in Carmine, TX

of the walnut, which are very pronounced because of the bleaching process. The light-dark contrast of

Category

Antique 18th Century Italian Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

18th Century Bleached Italian Walnut Louis XVI Commode
18th Century Bleached Italian Walnut Louis XVI Commode

18th Century Bleached Italian Walnut Louis XVI Commode

Located in Carmine, TX

of the walnut, which are very pronounced because of the bleaching process. The light-dark contrast of

Category

Antique 18th Century Italian Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

18th Century French Louis XV Bleached Walnut Commode
18th Century French Louis XV Bleached Walnut Commode

18th Century French Louis XV Bleached Walnut Commode

Located in Dallas, TX

cabinetmaker. The light color of the French walnut is a result of a bleaching process that removes the old

Category

Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

19th Century Bleached French Fossilized Marble Top Chest with Hidden Drawer
19th Century Bleached French Fossilized Marble Top Chest with Hidden Drawer

19th Century Bleached French Fossilized Marble Top Chest with Hidden Drawer

Located in Richmond, VA

19th century bleached french fossilized marble top chest with hidden bottom drawer and diamond

Category

Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble

19th Century Italian Bleached Walnut Commode with Inlay
19th Century Italian Bleached Walnut Commode with Inlay

19th Century Italian Bleached Walnut Commode with Inlay

Located in Viterbo, VT

Neoclassical commode hand-made in Italy in the mid 1800s using walnut and decorated with walnut

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Dra...

Materials

Satinwood, Walnut

19th Century Italian Bleached Walnut Commode with Inlay
19th Century Italian Bleached Walnut Commode with Inlay

19th Century Italian Bleached Walnut Commode with Inlay

Located in Carmine, TX

Neoclassical commode hand-made in Italy in the mid 1900s using walnut and decorated with walnut

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of D...

Materials

Satinwood, Walnut

Antique French Louis Philippe Style Bleached Bookmatched Burled Walnut Commode
Antique French Louis Philippe Style Bleached Bookmatched Burled Walnut Commode

Antique French Louis Philippe Style Bleached Bookmatched Burled Walnut Commode

Located in Birmingham, AL

A striking 19th century French Louis Philippe style bleached commode handcrafted of walnut with a

Category

Antique 1870s French Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

18th Century Italian Neoclassical Bleached Cherry Commode with Walnut Burl
18th Century Italian Neoclassical Bleached Cherry Commode with Walnut Burl

18th Century Italian Neoclassical Bleached Cherry Commode with Walnut Burl

Located in Carmine, TX

Bleached neoclassical chest of drawers hand-made in Italy using cherry as the primary and walnut

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Dr...

Materials

Walnut

Italian 1820s Tall Bleached Walnut Four-Drawer Commode with Butterfly Veneer
Italian 1820s Tall Bleached Walnut Four-Drawer Commode with Butterfly Veneer

Italian 1820s Tall Bleached Walnut Four-Drawer Commode with Butterfly Veneer

Located in Atlanta, GA

An Italian bleached walnut tall commode from the early 19th century, with four drawers and bleached

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

Pair Old Colony Bleached Walnut & Mahogany Commodes
Pair Old Colony Bleached Walnut & Mahogany Commodes

Pair Old Colony Bleached Walnut & Mahogany Commodes

By Old Colony Furniture

Located in Chicago, IL

These low four drawer chests feature finely grained bleached walnut, with cross cut mahogany edging

Category

Vintage 1940s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Mahogany, Walnut

Pair Regency Commodes In Bleached Walnut & Mahogany
Pair Regency Commodes In Bleached Walnut & Mahogany

Pair Regency Commodes In Bleached Walnut & Mahogany

Located in Chicago, IL

These low four drawer chests feature finely grained bleached walnut, with cross cut mahogany edging

Category

Vintage 1940s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Mahogany, Walnut

18th Century Bleached Walnut and Oak Regence Commode, Circa 1730
18th Century Bleached Walnut and Oak Regence Commode, Circa 1730

18th Century Bleached Walnut and Oak Regence Commode, Circa 1730

Located in Dallas, TX

Hand-carved, circa 1730, this commode is from the Regence period of France. The walnut and oak wood

Category

Antique 1730s French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood, Oak, Walnut

18th Century Bleached Italian Inlaid Walnut Louis XVI / Neoclassical Commode
18th Century Bleached Italian Inlaid Walnut Louis XVI / Neoclassical Commode

18th Century Bleached Italian Inlaid Walnut Louis XVI / Neoclassical Commode

Located in Carmine, TX

Louis XVI / Neoclassical commode made in central Italy in the mid 1700s using walnut. This is a

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Dr...

Materials

Walnut

18th Century Italian Inlaid Bleached Walnut Commode
18th Century Italian Inlaid Bleached Walnut Commode

18th Century Italian Inlaid Bleached Walnut Commode

Located in Dallas, TX

Handsome 18th century Italian inlaid bleached walnut commode. Interesting pattern, including a star

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

Kindel Bleached Walnut & Brass Empire Style Dresser
Kindel Bleached Walnut & Brass Empire Style Dresser

Kindel Bleached Walnut & Brass Empire Style Dresser

Located in Chicago, IL

Bleached walnut nine drawer dresser from revered Grand Rapids, Michigan furniture maker, Kindel

Category

Vintage 1950s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

19th Century French Empire Period Bleached Walnut Commode with Marble Top
19th Century French Empire Period Bleached Walnut Commode with Marble Top

19th Century French Empire Period Bleached Walnut Commode with Marble Top

Located in Birmingham, AL

. Having a bleached finish, this handsome antique French chest of drawers features a bookmatched burled

Category

Antique 1810s French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble, Brass, Bronze

18th Century Italian Neoclassical Bleached Walnut Commode
18th Century Italian Neoclassical Bleached Walnut Commode

18th Century Italian Neoclassical Bleached Walnut Commode

Located in Viterbo, VT

Neoclassical commode hand-made in Italy in the late 1700s using pine and decorated with walnut

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Dr...

Materials

Walnut, Pine, Satin

Early 19th Century French Empire Period Bleached Walnut Lyonnaise Commode with B
Early 19th Century French Empire Period Bleached Walnut Lyonnaise Commode with B

Early 19th Century French Empire Period Bleached Walnut Lyonnaise Commode with B

Located in Birmingham, AL

chest of drawers has a bleached or washed finish and features a black fossil marble top that rests above

Category

Antique 1810s French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass, Bronze

19th Century French Bleached Marble Top Chest with Diamonds
19th Century French Bleached Marble Top Chest with Diamonds

19th Century French Bleached Marble Top Chest with Diamonds

Located in Richmond, VA

19th century French bleached marble top chest of drawers with diamond shaped molding decoration and

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble

19th Century French Bleached Walnut Louis Philippe Style Commode with Marble Top
19th Century French Bleached Walnut Louis Philippe Style Commode with Marble Top

19th Century French Bleached Walnut Louis Philippe Style Commode with Marble Top

Located in Birmingham, AL

A handsome 19th century French Louis Philippe style four-drawer bleached commode, circa 1880s

Category

Antique 1880s French Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble, Brass

18th Century Italian Bleached Walnut Commode with Inlay
18th Century Italian Bleached Walnut Commode with Inlay

18th Century Italian Bleached Walnut Commode with Inlay

Located in Dallas, TX

Nice 18th century Italian bleached walnut commode with inlay. Very fine patina on this piece. A few

Category

Antique 18th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

French 1870s Louis-Philippe Style Bleached Walnut and Grey Marble-Top Commode
French 1870s Louis-Philippe Style Bleached Walnut and Grey Marble-Top Commode

French 1870s Louis-Philippe Style Bleached Walnut and Grey Marble-Top Commode

Located in Atlanta, GA

A French Louis-Philippe style bleached walnut commode from the late 19th century, with grey veined

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of D...

Materials

Marble

17th Century Italian Bleached Walnut Commode With Veneer and Walnut Burl
17th Century Italian Bleached Walnut Commode With Veneer and Walnut Burl

17th Century Italian Bleached Walnut Commode With Veneer and Walnut Burl

Located in Carmine, TX

Commode / chest of drawers hand-made in Italy in the early 1700s using walnut and decorated with

Category

Antique Late 17th Century Italian Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

19th Century Italian Carlo X Bleached Walnut Commode
19th Century Italian Carlo X Bleached Walnut Commode

19th Century Italian Carlo X Bleached Walnut Commode

Located in Carmine, TX

Chest of drawers hand-made in Italy in the early 1800s using walnut and decorated with book-matched

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Charles X Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

19th Century Italian Bleached Walnut & Olive Neoclassical Commode
19th Century Italian Bleached Walnut & Olive Neoclassical Commode

19th Century Italian Bleached Walnut & Olive Neoclassical Commode

Located in Viterbo, VT

Neoclassical commode hand-made in Italy in the early 1800s using walnut and decorated with walnut

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Dra...

Materials

Walnut, Olive

19th Century Italian Bleached Walnut & Olive Neoclassical Commode
19th Century Italian Bleached Walnut & Olive Neoclassical Commode

19th Century Italian Bleached Walnut & Olive Neoclassical Commode

Located in Carmine, TX

Neoclassical commode hand-made in Italy in the early 1800s using walnut and decorated with walnut

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Dra...

Materials

Olive, Walnut

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Bleached Walnut Chest For Sale on 1stDibs

With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the bleached walnut chest you’re looking for. Frequently made of wood, walnut and metal, every bleached walnut chest was constructed with great care. Your living room may not be complete without a bleached walnut chest — find older editions for sale from the 18th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 20th Century. A bleached walnut chest is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in Mid-Century Modern, Louis XV and Baroque styles are sought with frequency. A well-made bleached walnut chest has long been a part of the offerings for many furniture designers and manufacturers, but those produced by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Widdicomb Furniture Co. and Baker Furniture Company are consistently popular.

How Much is a Bleached Walnut Chest?

The average selling price for a bleached walnut chest at 1stDibs is $4,850, while they’re typically $895 on the low end and $25,000 for the highest priced.

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.

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