Early 19th Century American Mahogany Butler's Desk/Secretary Chest
Located in Louisville, KY
desk/chest is made of fine figured mahogany. The extended top drawer is a fall front secretary that
Brass
Gustavian Style RARE Butlers Desk
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a very unique Gustavian style 3 drawer Butlers Desk. its been restored and repainted with
Wood
$8,995
H 36 in W 46 in D 25 in
Biedermeier Period 19th Century Walnut Butler's Chest with Drop Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Biedermeier period walnut butler's chest from the 19th century with drop front desk, ebonized
Wood, Walnut
$9,750
H 65 in W 52.5 in D 24 in
Rhode Island Empire Butler's Chest of Drawers with Desk in Mahogany, circa 1825
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A beautiful example of an early American Empire chest with full-column front and stand-up butlers
Brass
Continental 19th Century Biedermeier St. Butler’s Desk/Commode
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Fruitwood, and ormolu butler's desk/commode. The eight drawer chest is raised by square feet below the
Ormolu
$6,720
H 35.75 in W 49.25 in D 23.75 in
Neoclassic Period French Commode W/Hidden Butler's Secretary & Writing Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
chest at first glance. However, discreetly hidden behind the upper "drawer" is in fact a fall-front
Wood
$7,960Sale Price|20% Off
H 42 in W 67 in D 25 in
Huge Gilded Ebonized Period French Louis XV Marble Top Butlers Desk Commode
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This monumental French Louis XV period butler’s desk commode is a masterpiece of 18th-century
Oak
Italian Florentine Giltwood Bureau Secretary Butlers Desk Chest
Located in Forney, TX
; With desk open: 24.5" Deep Clearance to desk: 28" Keywords: Butlers desk, secretary, secretaire
Brass
Butlers Desk / Linen Press
Located in Cloverdale, IN
This Butlers desk features a flame mahogany veneer exterior with solid marble top. The interior
Mahogany
Early 19th c. Chippendale English Butlers Desk
Located in Savannah, GA
Rare mahogany butlers desk with drawers and pullout writing desk.
Mahogany
Antique 1800s Butler Chest with Desk Drawer
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Cherry drop front butler chest with desk drawer.
Wood
Italian Fruitwood Neoclassical Three-Drawer Chest/ Butlers Desk.
Located in Buchanan, MI
An Italian fruitwood neoclassical three-drawer chest. Top drawer drops down as a desk. Measure
Ebony, Fruitwood
Biedermeier Butler's Desk
Located in New York, NY
Also known as a lady's desk, this chest was designed to hold jewelry, correspondence and trinkets
Fir
Biedermeier Butler's Desk
Located in New York, NY
Comprised of three locking drawers, and a "faux" drawer above which locks and falls to reveal secret drawers and compartments.
Fir
Antique Scottish or English Campaign Butler's Desk Chest of Drawers
Located in Centennial, CO
An elegant and functional antique Scottish or English campaign style butler's desk chest of drawer
Brass
A Biedermeier Butler's Desk
Located in New York, NY
various bits and pieces a butler might have needed to have at hand. Nowadays, this type of chest normally
Fir
A Biedermeier Butler's Desk
Located in New York, NY
A fine chest of drawers crafted of mahogany and fir, adorned with hand-cut flame mahogany veneers
Sold
H 35.5 in W 36 in D 16 in
Vintage English Mahogany Campaign Butler's Chest of Drawers With Desk (RL)
Located in Centennial, CO
, also called a butler's chest. Seven drawers offer ample storage and the top drawer fold out desk
Brass
19th Century Swedish Period Karl Johan Butler's Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish period Karl Johan butler's desk or chest with pull-out desk over three drawers. The desk
Wood
Sold
H 37 in W 45 in D 22.5 in
Late 19th / Early 20th Century French Louis XV Butlers Desk Chest of Drawers
Located in Forney, TX
A handsome antique French Louis XV style chest of drawers butler's desk. Late 19th / early 20th
Marble, Bronze
19th Century Italian Walnut Carlo X Commode / Butler's Desk
Located in Carmine, TX
Carlo X butler's desk / chest of drawers made in Italy in the mid 1800s using walnut. The first
Walnut
French Inlaid Rosewood and Kingwood Butlers Desk Dresser Commode
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Description Inlaid. Marble top. Top drawers has open space and 3 drawers with flip down door. 2 doors in middle containing 3 drawers. 1 drawer on bottom. 37 1/8" h x 52" w x 24 1/2" ...
Marble, Brass
Sold
H 38.5 in W 53.25 in D 22.25 in
Gorgeous Solid Cherry Signed Francesco Molon Marble Top Butlers Commode Desk
By Francesco Molon
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a gorgeous butler's commode with a dropdown desk with cubbies. The commode is made of
Marble
Mahogany 2 Part Campaign Secretary Chest or Butlers Desk
Located in Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful 2 part campaign chest with a faux 2 drawer top drawer, dropping down to reveal a
Sold
H 45.5 in W 43 in L 45.5 in
Antique American Mahogany Baltimore 'Butler's' Desk/Secretary Chest, circa 1820
By John Needles
Located in Portland, OR
Antique American mahogany Baltimore 'Butler's' desk/secretary chest, circa 1820. The desk made of
Mahogany
Sold
H 47 in W 42 in D 20 in
Antique American Empire Carved Mahogany, Tiger Maple & Burl Butler's Chest
Located in Big Flats, NY
Antique American Empire flame mahogany butler's chest features bookmatched flame mahogany drawers
Bone, Glass, Mahogany, Burl
Bleached Louis Phillipe Commode with Butler’s Desk
Located in Savannah, GA
A bleached Louis Phillipe commode with butler’s desk and carrara marble top, 19th century. 52
Carrara Marble
Sold
H 42.75 in W 41.75 in D 24.25 in
Antique Sheraton Cherry Butlers Chest with Drop-Front Desk, Circa 1830
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Sheraton Butler's chest offers paneled cherry construction with drop front desk opening
Cherry
19th Century Georgian Mahogany Secretaire Chest of Drawers
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Grand early 19th century English Georgian butler's desk or chest of drawers with secretaire
Brass
19th Century Biedermeier Chest, Butlers Desk
Located in New York, NY
Mahogany, Biedermeier Chest, Butlers Desk
Mahogany
American Inlaid mahogany Chest On Chest With Butlers Desk
Located in Stamford, CT
An inlaid mahogany chest on chest with butlers desk and bonnet top. Found in Pennsylvania
Mahogany
Biedermeier Butler's Desk
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
A solid wood four drawer Biedermeier chest, the top most drawer pulling out to reveal a hinged
Metal
Sold
H 33 in W 47 in D 23.5 in
French Mid-19th Century Louis XVI Style Butler's Desk Wild Cherry Commode
Located in Atlanta, GA
This French Louis XVI wild cherry butler's desk from the mid-19th century features a rectangular
Cherry
18th Century English Chest on Chest with Butlers Desk
Located in Charleston, SC
butler's desk with six thin drawers and four letter slots. There is also a middle section that will lock
Mahogany
Sold
H 50 in W 42 in D 19.25 in
Early 19th Century China Trade Camphor Two-Part Secrétarie Military Chest
Located in Charleston, SC
This early 19th century British Colonial China trade campaign chest with butler's desk is made with
Brass
Sold
H 44 in W 42 in D 20.5 in
John Wanamaker Georgina / Federal Style Flame Mahogany Butler Desk Commode
Located in Parkesburg, PA
Features fine high quality made construction, 3 Large Dovetailed Drawers, Drop front writing surface with 2 internal small drawers, Figured Mahogany Satinwood Inlay, Brass Hardware, ...
Mahogany
$234,055Sale Price|33% Off
H 51.19 in W 55.12 in D 201.58 in
Rare Victorian Firescreen with Taxidermy Hummingbirds by Henry Ward
By Henry Ward
Located in Amsterdam, NL
England, third quarter of the 19th century On two scrolling foliate feet with casters, above which a rectangular two-side glazed frame, with on top a two-sided shield with initial...
Other
$2,121 / item
H 4.15 in W 5.35 in D 7.75 in
Hans-Agne Jakobsson 'Mini-Tratten' Verdigris Patinated Outdoor Sconce
By Hans-Agne Jakobsson, Örsjö Industri AB
Located in Glendale, CA
Hans-Agne Jakobsson 'Mini-Tratten' verdigris patinated outdoor sconce. An exclusive made for U.S. and UL listed authorized re-edition of the classic Swedish design executed in rich v...
Metal
$1,650 / item
H 16.1 in Dm 11.5 in
'Plissé White Edition' Pleated Textile Table Lamp by Folkform for Örsjö
By Örsjö Industri AB
Located in Glendale, CA
'Plissé White Edition' pleated textile table lamp by Folkform for Örsjö. This unique table lamp was awarded “Lighting of the Year 2022” by Residence Magazine Sweden, who called it “...
Textile
Louis XVI Period Commode In Walnut Late 18th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
A refined Louis XVI period commode crafted from solid walnut, dating to the late 18th century. This elegant French chest of drawers opens to three full-length drawers, each fitted wi...
Wood, Walnut
19th century French Bookcase Mahogany
Located in MILL, NL
Insanely beautiful Louis Philippe bookcase / sideboard / display cabinet. Mahogany veneer over oak. Dates from the late 19th century. Condition is exceptionally good. All locks func...
Mahogany, Oak
$4,200
H 35.5 in W 51.5 in D 24 in
Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Period Burl Elm Commode, Chest of Drawers
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This quintessential Louis Philippe period commode or chest of drawers displays the exemplary craftsmanship of the nineteenth century with a facade of burl elm and solid elm panel sid...
Marble
George III Bureau Desk or Secretary Chest from the 18th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A fine George III slant top desk or bureau secretary chest of elm, oak and padouk woods, c.1780 - an inlaid slant front drops to reveal a series of small drawers and document compart...
Metal, Brass
$14,500
H 84 in W 48 in D 24 in
19th Century Scandinavian Birch Empire Bureau Secretary with Bookcase, c. 1820
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A very fine Scandinavian Empire/Biedermeier secretary in beautiful birch wood with mahogany interior, Denmark, circa 1820. The highly sculptural form makes this piece an outstanding ...
Birch
The 'Matisse' Etagere
Located in London, GB
The 'Matisse' wrought iron side table. A hand made and patinated wrought iron etagere with whimsical Matisse style cut-out decoration. Made to order based on a 1960s original. Avail...
Wrought Iron
Pair of Murano Glass Wall Sconces, Art Deco Style, in Stock
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of Murano glass wall sconces, in stock Fume color and horizontal striation texture Black opaline finials and brass accents Art Deco inspired design. Gives off warm beams of lig...
Brass
$780
H 15.36 in W 9.06 in D 1.19 in
18th Century Chinoiserie Table Mirror, Yellow Lacquered Wood, France
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
This unusual table-top 'Psyche' table mirror dates from the 18th century, its wooden frame beautifully crafted from yellow-lacquered wood and decorated with hand-painted chinoiserie ...
Mirror, Wood
French 19th Century Walnut Secretary Desk
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A wonderful walnut secretary desk from 19th century France. The desk can be separated into two bodies: a lower writing surface, and the upper glass-front cabinet. The top cabinet ha...
Walnut, Leather, Glass
$3,950
H 45 in W 42.5 in D 22.5 in
Antique 19th C. Chippendale George III Mahogany Slant Front Secretary Desk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Please message us with your zip code to request a more reasonable domestic U.S. shipping quote. Antique 19th C. Chippendale George III Mahogany Slant Front Secretary Desk. Item feat...
Mahogany
French Faux Bamboo Secretaire à Abattant, or Drop Front Desk
Located in Winter Park, FL
A French secrétaire à abattant, or drop front secretary desk, with the case made of birdseye maple veneer over solid oak and the faux bamboo details made of turned cherry wood. Four ...
Brass
$3,595
H 80.5 in W 35 in D 15.75 in
Georgian Chinoiserie Black Lacquered Hand-Painted Drop Front Secretary Desk
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Georgian Hollywood Regency Chinoiserie style bureau with drop front secretary desk and lighted bookcase hutch top In the manner of Baker Furniture By Jasper Cabinet ...
Brass
George III Mahogany Chest of Drawers
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
George III mahogany chest of drawers, circa 1780. With a rectangular single board top with thumb molded front and side borders, two top drawers and 3 graduated lower drawers all with...
Brass
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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