Early 19th Century American Mahogany Butler's Desk/Secretary Chest
Located in Louisville, KY
This stunning c. 1830's desk/chest is made of fine figured mahogany. The extended top drawer is a fall front secretary that pulls down and out on a brass half-arc track to reveal a s...
Brass
$2,120Sale Price|20% Off
American Empire Classical Mahogany Butlers Chest With Drop-Front Desk c1840
Located in Big Flats, NY
An exceptional American Empire Classical butler's chest, crafted from mahogany and dating to circa 1840.
Mahogany
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 accents and inlaid escutcheons.
Wood, Walnut
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 Milk Paints "Oyster White"
Wood
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 desk.
Brass
Continental 19th Century Biedermeier St. Butler’s Desk/Commode
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exceptional and unique Continental 19th century Biedermeier st. flamed Mahogany, ebonized Fruitwood, and ormolu butler's desk/commode. The eight drawer chest is raised by square f...
Ormolu
Neoclassic Period French Commode W/Hidden Butler's Secretary & Writing Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Neoclassical commode, with hidden secretary and original hardware, from the turn of the 18th and 19th century. This antique commode from France gives the appearance of being...
Wood
$7,960Sale Price|20% Off
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-inspired design, blending elegance, opulence, and utility in one commanding piece. Craft...
Oak
Baker Manor House English George III Mahogany Breakfront China Cabinet Bookcase
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in Dayton, OH
Given its age and rarity, These pieces have become highly coveted furnishings. The butler's secretary desk, or butler's chest, originated in the 18th and early 19th centuries as a...
Brass
Butlers Desk / Linen Press
Located in Cloverdale, IN
This Butlers desk features a flame mahogany veneer exterior with solid marble top. The interior opens to a desk with a stunning birdseye maple veneer finish and leather inlay writing...
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: Height 30 1/2 x width 25 1/2 x depth 15 1/2 inches.
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 in its hidden interior drawers. The uppermost drawer pulls out and is hinged to fall...
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. Crafted out of teak or sycamore (exterior) and elm (interior) with original brass ...
Brass
A Biedermeier Butler's Desk
Located in New York, NY
Originally designed as a case piece for a drawing room, the upper drawer folds down to hold the various bits and pieces a butler might have needed to have at hand. Nowadays, this ty...
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, the chest features four locking drawers. The upper most drawer, however, has a se...
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
A beautifully crafted vintage English flame mahogany campaign chest fitted with a pullout desk, also called a butler's chest.
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.
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 century, featuring the original dramatically veined variegated marble slab top wit...
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.
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 figured cherry with beautiful brass hardware and a great marble top. Measures 53.25 wide...
Marble
Italian Florentine Giltwood Bureau Secretary Butlers Desk Chest
Located in Forney, TX
Dimensions: (approx) 38" High, 37.5" Wide, 17" Deep; With desk open: 24.5" Deep Clearance to desk: 28" Keywords: Butlers desk, secretary, secretaire, chest of drawers, commode, dre...
Brass
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 secretary interior with tooled green leather inset, pigeon holes, and a single drawer. We...
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 fine figured mahogany, the top drawer being a fall front secretary with a fitted int...
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 with tiger maple and burl facing, front drops to reveal writing surface and interior...
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 inches wide by 21 inches deep by 39 inches tall
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 to interior with pigeon holes and drawers over three long drawers, raised on turne...
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.
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 writing surface and 13 drawers and compartments with ivory pulls and escutcheons.
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 piece, called a Butler's desk, is a combination of desk and chest of drawers.
Cherry
18th Century English Chest on Chest with Butlers Desk
Located in Charleston, SC
This beautiful piece was made in England during the late 18th Century around year 1760-1770. Every part of this item is original including the handles and escutcheons. The top sectio...
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 camphor wood.
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
$2,459Sale Price|20% Off
H 48 in W 49.5 in D 24.5 in
19th Century mahogany bowfront chest of exceptional quality
Located in Martlesham, GB
A large and impressive 19th Century mahogany bowfront chest of drawers, having a nice shaped figured top above a selection of two short over three long graduated oak lined drawer wit...
Mahogany
$3,434Sale Price|24% Off
H 32.49 in W 34.45 in D 17.92 in
Small Biedermeier Walnut Half Cabinet with Drawer, South Germany circa 1830
Located in Darmstadt, DE
Elegant small Biedermeier half cabinet from Southern Germany, circa 1830. The charming piece is veneered in richly grained walnut on a solid spruce body, displaying the warm tones an...
Walnut, Spruce
$6,863Sale Price|20% Off
H 61.82 in W 41.34 in D 21.07 in
19th Century German Biedermeier standing secretary desk walnut veneer
Located in Münster, DE
Biedermeier standing secretary desk, walnut veneer, beautifully mirrored veneer, architectural interior with maple and burl maple veneer, mirrored compartment and secret compartment...
Wood, Walnut
19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Birch Secretary Bureau
Located in Round Top, TX
19th century Swedish Biedermeier secretary bureau crafted in birch veneer with warm golden yellow tones. The clean-lined form includes an upper drawer, central fall-front desk area, ...
Birch
Gustavian Style 6 Drawer Dresser
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a unique Gustavian style 6 drawer dresser. Its been restored and repainted with Milk Paints "Oyster White".
Wood
19th c. German Biedermeier Walnut Commode
Located in Dallas, TX
The product is an antique German Biedermeier walnut commode from the 19th century. This dresser or chest of drawers exudes a classic and elegant style typical of the Biedermeier peri...
Walnut
Swedish Gustavian 3 Drawer Chest Of Drawers
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a Swedish Gustavian 3 Drawer Chest Of Drawers. its been restored and repainted with Milk Paints "Oyster White".
Wood
$8,579
H 75.2 in W 49.61 in D 25.2 in
Biedermeier Chest, Secretary or Cabinet, Walnut, Southern Germany, circa 1830
Located in Greven, DE
Biedermeier chest of drawers with writing drawer and raised compartment Southern Germany Walnut, birch Biedermeier around 1830 Dimensions: H x W x D: 191 x 126 x 64 cm Description...
Walnut
Swedish Gustavian Painted Chest of Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A refined Gustavian-style chest of drawers from Sweden, crafted in pine and painted in warm contrasting tones. The rectangular top, finished in a deep brown, rests above a body in so...
Pine
18th Century Mahogany Chest on Chest
Located in High Point, NC
18th century mahogany chest on chest from England. There is a dentil moulding, over an arched cove moulding. This chest is of exceptional quality. The sides are made from mahogany as...
Mahogany
$5,491
H 66.93 in W 43.31 in D 21.26 in
Biedermeier Walnut Secretary Desk, Veneered, Restored, Circa 1840
Located in Greding, DE
Biedermeier secretary desk veneered in walnut, featuring three lower drawers, a flat fall-front writing surface, and a top drawer. The pilasters are designed as columns with baluste...
Walnut
19th Century English Mahogany Chest of Drawers
Located in New York, NY
UK circa 1850
Wood
Small Bowfront Mahogany Chest Of Drawers Regency Period
Located in Brussels, Brussels
lovely bowfront mahogany chest of drawers from the regency period circa 1800 English chest of drawers since its face and drawers are curved small chest of drawers with a small marqu...
Mahogany
19th Century Mahogany Campaign Chest, Regency Style, Circa 1820
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
An English 19th century campaign chest in the Regency taste with faux bamboo carving on the trim for an exotic touch as if brought back from one's travels around the world. Wrapped i...
Mahogany
Early 19th-century Mahogany Bowfront Chest Of Drawers
Located in Brussels, Brussels
A lovely, bowfront mahogany chest of drawers from the early 19th century from England A good-quality chest of drawers with bowed drawer witch gives a beautiful look to the chest Supe...
Mahogany
$4,495
H 65.5 in W 42.25 in D 20 in
Antique Austrian Flame Mahogany Biedermeier Secretary Desk Cabinet Chest 1860
Located in Portland, OR
A fine antique Austrian Biedermeier flame mahogany secretary chest, circa 1860. The cabinet having a stepped cornice with circular turned finial brackets at each corner, the top of t...
Mahogany
18th Century Dutch Mahogany Corner Cupboard
Located in Martlesham, GB
18th century Dutch mahogany corner cupboard with a moulded arched cornice, the top section having two paneled doors with shaped and moulded beading around the panels, opening to reve...
Mahogany
Set of Four Rare Spanish Tin-Glazed plates 18th C.
Located in Charlottesville, VA
A charming set of four, rare tin-glazed earthenware plates, Spain, Catalonia, 18th Century. Each hand-painted in cobalt blue on a cream-white ground. Size: 7.75" Diameter x 1.5" H ...
Earthenware
$2,850 / set
H 18 in W 7 in D 6 in
Beautiful French Dore Bronze Marble Cherub Ormolu-Mounted Candelabra Lamps, Pair
Located in Roslyn, NY
A beautiful pair of French gilt doré bronze and marble cherub ormolu-mounted candelabra / three branch lamps.
Marble, Bronze
Mid-Century Copper Orrery Planetarium Sculpture
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A Mid-century copper orrery planetarium sculpture. This hand crafted model encapsulates the atomic age, drawing inspiration from the mid century space race style. The base is a weig...
Copper, Metal
ShiLU Sconce PB
By Lumfardo Luminaires
Located in Inglewood, CA
Part of Lumfardo Luminaries contemporary collection, the ShiLU Sconce PB is a fully directional reading sconce crafted from patinated brass and steel hardware and fabric shade. Class...
Brass, Steel
$4,518
H 29.73 in W 34.65 in D 17.13 in
Elegant Swedish Gustavian Desk with Fluted Decor and a Large Drawer, Circa 1790
Located in Kramfors, SE
Swedish desk from the gustavian period around 1790. The desk is made by hand with a unique frame in solid pine. Original fluted decor around the whole apron and straight tapered legs...
Pine
Pine Two Door Armoire with Removable Cartouche
Located in Baltimore, MD
The angular cartouche on this small armoire is 10” high and simply lifts off if the customer so chooses. It consists of a pyramid-shaped base trimmed with ogee crown molding mounted...
Pine
Antique English Hand-Painted Ridgway Ironstone Imari Decor Platter
By J & W Ridgway
Located in CHARLESTON, SC
Fine antique English hand-painted ironstone Imari decor platter with extraordinarily colorful "Imari" pattern. "Fraction-style" painted pattern number attributes maker of platter ...
Ironstone
$8,600
H 29.75 in W 70.63 in D 28.75 in
Early 19th Century French Oak Dining Table, Louis XIII Style, Provence
Located in Astoria, NY
Sourced in Provence, France, this early 19th-century French oak dining table is crafted in the Louis XIII style, reflecting the enduring influence of 17th-century French design on pr...
Oak
Louise Nevelson "Untitled" Ebonized Wall Relief Sculpture
By Louise Nevelson
Located in New York, NY
This "Untitled" ebonized wall relief sculpture by Louise Nevelson stands as a quintessential example of the artist's groundbreaking approach to assemblage. Created circa 1960, Nevels...
Wood
Antique Country French Two Part Pine Armoire
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A rustic French Country Armoire with panel doors. The Armoire has six later shelves, an interior drawer and a towel or hanging bar. With a simple case having scrolled bottom apron an...
Pine
MCM Scandinavian Modern Chandelier By V. Soini 1950's
Located in Kangasala, FI
A beautiful and authentic Finnish mid-century modern pendant light, manufactured in Finland by V. Soini during the 1950s. The lamp features an elegant brass frame combined with its ...
Brass
Late 18th-Early 19th Century Italian Walnut Dining Table
Located in Houston, TX
Late 18th-Early 19th century Italian Walnut Dining Table. We offer a magnificent antique Tuscan walnut dining table which can be used as an entrance table, trestle table, refectory t...
Walnut
$9,500
H 30.25 in W 37.5 in D 19.25 in
Restored Swedish Gustavian Commodes, Painted Pinewood, Circa 1920-1940
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautifully restored pair of early to mid-20th Century Swedish Gustavian commodes, meticulously hand-crafted in painted Pinewood. These refined Scandinavian chests are characterist...
Pine
Pair of 19th century painted Swedish chest of drawers
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Pair of 19th painted Swedish chest of drawers circa 1880. Good quality pair of Swedish hand painted commodes, ideal for many rooms around the home. Rectangular top with front cante...
Pine, Paint
Green and Tan Rattan Rectangular Coffee Table
By Creel and Gow
Located in New York, NY
Green and Tan Rattan Rectangular Coffee Table Introducing Creel and Gow's exclusive wicker and rattan collection, designed by Marco Scarani. We're proud to offer our customers these...
Rattan
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.
Simple or sophisticated, equipped with console, cart or custom cabinetry, these stylish bar areas deserve a toast.
Whether you’re just moving in or ready to give your home a makeover, our guide will give you pointers on tables that are fitting for every room, nook and hallway.
The furniture equivalent of a Swiss Army knife, it's the multifunctional piece you didn't know you needed.
Italian studio DimoreMilano mustered great ingenuity when crafting these sculptural shelves, which are built without any screws.
Leaping into a design project, whether it's refreshing the bedroom or redoing the whole house, can be overwhelming. Luckily, we know more than a few interior designers. You asked questions on Instagram, and now they're answering.
Introduced nearly 500 years ago, curiosity cabinets are finding new fans among today's collectors and designers.
In the hands of New York Heartwoods cofounder Megan Offner, unwanted local trees become works of design art.
From Brooklyn townhouses to Maine campgrounds, Trattie Davies and Jonathan Toews relish a challenge, like transforming a former warehouse space into the new 1stdibs Gallery.