Chest Of Drawers In White Rock Crystal
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Rock Crystal, Stone, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Stone, Rock Crystal, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rock Crystal, Brass
2010s Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch
People Also Browsed
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass, Bronze, Enamel, Nickel
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile
2010s Brazilian Beds and Bed Frames
Leather, Upholstery
2010s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Console Tables
Marble
Antique 17th Century Japanese Edo Lacquer
Copper, Gold
2010s American Modern Stools
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Benches
Fabric, Velvet, Lacquer, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Organic Modern Dining Room Chairs
Sapele Wood, Upholstery
2010s Italian Art Deco Night Stands
Carrara Marble, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Console Tables
Travertine, Marble, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Marble, Metal
2010s American Modern Table Lamps
Ceramic
2010s French Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Alabaster, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Armchairs
Bouclé
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Night Stands
Shagreen
21st Century and Contemporary French Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Iron
Finding the Right commodes-chests-of-drawers for You
Is it 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 a 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.
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.