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Commodes Chinoiserie Lacquer

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Louis XV Style Chinoiserie Coromandel Commode, 19th Century
Louis XV Style Chinoiserie Coromandel Commode, 19th Century

Louis XV Style Chinoiserie Coromandel Commode, 19th Century

Located in Cypress, CA

Impressive 19th Century French Louis XV/XVI style Chinoiserie coromandel commode. The mottled

Category

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

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Pair of Louis XVI Style Chinoiserie Decorated Demilune Commodes
Pair of Louis XVI Style Chinoiserie Decorated Demilune Commodes

Pair of Louis XVI Style Chinoiserie Decorated Demilune Commodes

Located in Essex, MA

Each with marble tops over two drawers and flanked by a pair of doors. With bronze mounts and raised on square tapered legs. Provenance ; Waldorf Towers NYC. These are original piece...

Category

Antique 1770s French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Oak, Lacquer

Pair 1940's Hollywood Regency Lacquered Hand Painted Chinoiserie Night Stands
Pair 1940's Hollywood Regency Lacquered Hand Painted Chinoiserie Night Stands

Pair 1940's Hollywood Regency Lacquered Hand Painted Chinoiserie Night Stands

Located in Opa Locka, FL

Pair Hollywood Regency Black Lacquered Hand Painted Birds and Floral Detailed Night Stands c1940's

Category

Vintage 1940s Chinese Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

20th Century Lacquered Chinoiserie Wood French Chest of Drawers, 1960
20th Century Lacquered Chinoiserie Wood French Chest of Drawers, 1960

20th Century Lacquered Chinoiserie Wood French Chest of Drawers, 1960

Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont

French chest of drawers of the 20th century. Beautifully decorated furniture lacquered and chiseled

Category

Mid-20th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

English 1820s Georgian Period Black and Gold Chinoiserie Chest with Stone Top
English 1820s Georgian Period Black and Gold Chinoiserie Chest with Stone Top

English 1820s Georgian Period Black and Gold Chinoiserie Chest with Stone Top

Located in Atlanta, GA

An English Georgian ebonized chinoiserie chest-of-drawers from the early 19th century with gilt and

Category

Antique Early 19th Century English Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Dr...

Materials

Wood

Chinese Chinoiserie Gold Lacquered Commode with Flowers and Birds
Chinese Chinoiserie Gold Lacquered Commode with Flowers and Birds

Chinese Chinoiserie Gold Lacquered Commode with Flowers and Birds

Located in Boca Raton, FL

Impressive Chinese gold leaf lacquered commode with carved and painted flowers and birds. Great

Category

Vintage 1950s Chinese Chinoiserie Cabinets

Materials

Wood

Louis XV Style Chinoiserie Decorated Chest of Drawers
Louis XV Style Chinoiserie Decorated Chest of Drawers

Louis XV Style Chinoiserie Decorated Chest of Drawers

Located in Laguna Beach, CA

Louis XV style chinoiserie decorated two drawer chest of drawers, circa late 20th century. With a

Category

Late 20th Century Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

19th Century English Chest on Stand with a Black and Gold Lacquered Finish
19th Century English Chest on Stand with a Black and Gold Lacquered Finish

19th Century English Chest on Stand with a Black and Gold Lacquered Finish

Located in Dallas, TX

English chest on stand with a Japanned lacquered finish in black, gold and red dating from the mid

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century English Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Pair of Luxurious Nightstands with Textured Lacquered Surface
Pair of Luxurious Nightstands with Textured Lacquered Surface

Pair of Luxurious Nightstands with Textured Lacquered Surface

Located in Waalwijk, NL

Pair of nightstands, lacquered wood, brass, Europe, 1960s. These two lovely dark brown nightstands

Category

Vintage 1960s European Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Modern Baker Cabinet in Cream Lacquered Grass Cloth with Brass Pulls
Modern Baker Cabinet in Cream Lacquered Grass Cloth with Brass Pulls

Modern Baker Cabinet in Cream Lacquered Grass Cloth with Brass Pulls

By Michael Taylor, Baker Furniture Company

Located in Houston, TX

Cream colored lacquered grass cloth cabinet from Baker's Far East collection. Ming style turned

Category

Vintage 1960s American Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Baker Furniture Cinnabar Red Lacquer Hand-Painted Dutch Chest of Drawers, USA
Baker Furniture Cinnabar Red Lacquer Hand-Painted Dutch Chest of Drawers, USA

Baker Furniture Cinnabar Red Lacquer Hand-Painted Dutch Chest of Drawers, USA

By Baker Furniture Company

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Baker Furniture cinnabar red lacquer hand-painted dutch chest of drawers, USA. Vintage Collector’s

Category

Mid-20th Century American Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Hand-Painted Asian Chest
Hand-Painted Asian Chest

Hand-Painted Asian Chest

Located in Dallas, TX

Asian chest with brass accents. Hand-painted scenes adorn the exterior of chest. Dimensions: 42" W x 18" D x 47" T.

Category

Late 20th Century Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Monumental Rose Tarlow Japanned Dresser or Chests of Drawers
Monumental Rose Tarlow Japanned Dresser or Chests of Drawers

Monumental Rose Tarlow Japanned Dresser or Chests of Drawers

Located in Rio Vista, CA

a sideboard or credenza. The chest features a chinoiserie style Japanned case decorated with idyllic

Category

20th Century American Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Pair of Midcentury Asian Style Three Drawer Chests
Pair of Midcentury Asian Style Three Drawer Chests

Pair of Midcentury Asian Style Three Drawer Chests

By Treasure Chest

Located in Troy, MI

Pair of small three drawer chests with Asian styling. Black lacquer finish with original brass

Category

Mid-20th Century American Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Antique Venetian Chinoiserie Bombe Chest
Antique Venetian Chinoiserie Bombe Chest

Antique Venetian Chinoiserie Bombe Chest

Located in Fulton, CA

18th century Italian commode embellished with hand lacquered chinoiserie detail. Over-exaggerated

Category

Antique 18th Century Italian Chinoiserie Dressers

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

Lacquered ‘Chinoiserie’ Bombe Commode
Lacquered ‘Chinoiserie’ Bombe Commode

Lacquered ‘Chinoiserie’ Bombe Commode

Located in Vancouver, BC

Late 19th Century black lacquered bombe commode in the Chinoiserie style. Beautiful construction

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Louis XV Chinoiserie Lacquered Commodes
Louis XV Chinoiserie Lacquered Commodes

Louis XV Chinoiserie Lacquered Commodes

Located in London, GB

Pair of French Louis XV Chinoiserie Lacquered Commodes - one with red ground and Breche D’Alep

Category

20th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Chinoiserie Bombe Red Lacquer Commode
Chinoiserie Bombe Red Lacquer Commode

Chinoiserie Bombe Red Lacquer Commode

Located in Chulmleigh, Devon

Stunning French commode with hand painted lacquer finish, fab green marble, (has had very good

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble

Louis Philippe Raised Lacquer Chinoiserie Commode
Louis Philippe Raised Lacquer Chinoiserie Commode

Louis Philippe Raised Lacquer Chinoiserie Commode

Located in Gloucestershire, GB

A very unusual, French Louis Philippe period raised lacquer chinoiserie commode, of great detail

Category

Antique 19th Century European Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Late 19th Century Red Lacquer Chinoiserie Commode
Late 19th Century Red Lacquer Chinoiserie Commode

Late 19th Century Red Lacquer Chinoiserie Commode

Located in New York, NY

Late 19th century red lacquer chinoiserie commode, Louis XV style, gilt metal mounts and sabots

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

A Luxurious Louis XV Style Claret Lacquer Chinoiserie Commode
A Luxurious Louis XV Style Claret Lacquer Chinoiserie Commode

A Luxurious Louis XV Style Claret Lacquer Chinoiserie Commode

Located in San Francisco, CA

The arabescato orobico rosso marble top with serpentine front and sides; above a conforming case decorated in fanciful scenes of pagodas and foliate motifs; with two drawers each cen...

Category

20th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble

A Rare Pr of Maison Jansen Black Lacquer Chinoiserie Commodes
A Rare Pr of Maison Jansen Black Lacquer Chinoiserie Commodes

A Rare Pr of Maison Jansen Black Lacquer Chinoiserie Commodes

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

The marble tops above three drawers, the whole decorated in black lacquer and parcel gilt

Category

Vintage 1940s French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble, Bronze, Brass

18th CENTURY CHINOISERIE COMMODE
18th CENTURY CHINOISERIE COMMODE

18th CENTURY CHINOISERIE COMMODE

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Chinoiserie chest of drawer

Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Louis XV Style Early 20th Century Lacquer Commode Flowers and Chinoiserie Scenes
Louis XV Style Early 20th Century Lacquer Commode Flowers and Chinoiserie Scenes

Louis XV Style Early 20th Century Lacquer Commode Flowers and Chinoiserie Scenes

Located in Saint Ouen, FR

A French Louis XV style lacquer two-drawer commode from the early 20th century, with hand-painted

Category

Early 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Breccia Marble

French Louis XV Chinoiserie Commode with Marble Top
French Louis XV Chinoiserie Commode with Marble Top

French Louis XV Chinoiserie Commode with Marble Top

Located in Salt Lake City, UT

A French Louis XV style commode of bombe form with a lacquered black body decorated with

Category

Antique 19th Century French Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

19thc. FRENCH CHINOISERIE COMMODE
19thc. FRENCH CHINOISERIE COMMODE

19thc. FRENCH CHINOISERIE COMMODE

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Red Lacquer Chinoiserie Commode 19thc. french, 2 drawers

Category

French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble

German Commode Decorated in Chinoiserie
German Commode Decorated in Chinoiserie

German Commode Decorated in Chinoiserie

Located in San Francisco, CA

An 18th Century German Serpentine 3 Drawer Commode with Chinoiserie Black Lacquer Decoration.

Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier German Commodes and Chests of Drawers

1950s French Lacquered Chest "Chinoiserie Style"
1950s French Lacquered Chest "Chinoiserie Style"

1950s French Lacquered Chest "Chinoiserie Style"

Located in Firenze, IT

Slightly pyramidal shape, six drawers, three with dividers, gold leaves profiles, brass details.

Category

Vintage 1950s French Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Late 19th century Chinoiserie Chest of Drawers/Commode
Late 19th century Chinoiserie Chest of Drawers/Commode

Late 19th century Chinoiserie Chest of Drawers/Commode

Located in Seattle, WA

Beautiful and unique color late 19th century chinoiserie commode with original decorations. 3 long

Category

Antique 19th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood, Paint, Lacquer

18th Century  Style English Chinoiserie Commode, c. 1900
18th Century  Style English Chinoiserie Commode, c. 1900

18th Century Style English Chinoiserie Commode, c. 1900

Located in Atlanta, GA

was the decorative art known as Chinoiserie. This technique, which reflected Chinese art, was

Category

Early 20th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood, Lacquer, Paint

Pair of 19th Century Chinoiserie English Regency Commodes
Pair of 19th Century Chinoiserie English Regency Commodes

Pair of 19th Century Chinoiserie English Regency Commodes

Located in Charleston, SC

Pair of English commodes in Chinese taste with one door each. These commodes have wonderful lacquer

Category

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

Materials

Gesso, Pine, Lacquer

BAKER Collectors Edition Hand Painted Lacquered Asian Chinoiserie Bachelor Chest
BAKER Collectors Edition Hand Painted Lacquered Asian Chinoiserie Bachelor Chest

BAKER Collectors Edition Hand Painted Lacquered Asian Chinoiserie Bachelor Chest

By Baker Furniture Company

Located in Charlotte, NC

Edition. Solid wood, block front, hand painted with Chinoiserie scenes, lacquered, gold painted banding to

Category

Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

AMERICAN OF MARTINSVILLE Vintage Asian Chinoiserie Black Lacquer Bachelor Chest
AMERICAN OF MARTINSVILLE Vintage Asian Chinoiserie Black Lacquer Bachelor Chest

AMERICAN OF MARTINSVILLE Vintage Asian Chinoiserie Black Lacquer Bachelor Chest

Located in Charlotte, NC

An Asian style bachelor chest by American of Martinsville. Solid wood lacquered in black with brass

Category

Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Chinoiserie Lacquered Chest of Drawers
Chinoiserie Lacquered Chest of Drawers

Chinoiserie Lacquered Chest of Drawers

Located in New York, NY

REGENCY STYLE BLACK CHINOISERIE DECORATED CHEST OF DRAWERS

Category

Early 20th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Pair of French 19th Century Chinoiserie Commodes
Pair of French 19th Century Chinoiserie Commodes

Pair of French 19th Century Chinoiserie Commodes

Located in Fairhope, AL

Beautiful pair of French 19th century ivory lacquer chinoiserie commodes. Having painted faux

Category

Antique 18th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Victorian Bamboo and Lacquer Chinoiserie Chest of Drawers
Victorian Bamboo and Lacquer Chinoiserie Chest of Drawers

Victorian Bamboo and Lacquer Chinoiserie Chest of Drawers

Located in New York, NY

Victorian Bamboo Chest of Drawers, Late 19th Century, with Modern Lacquer Decoration

Category

Antique 19th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Elegant Lacquered Neo Ming / Chinoiserie Cabinet
Elegant Lacquered Neo Ming / Chinoiserie Cabinet

Elegant Lacquered Neo Ming / Chinoiserie Cabinet

Located in Miami, FL

Elegant High Gloss Lacquered Neo Ming Cabinet, with chinoiserie brass escussions. For

Category

Vintage 1970s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Signed 19th Century Louis XVI Chinoiserie Decorated Commode by Maison Forest
Signed 19th Century Louis XVI Chinoiserie Decorated Commode by Maison Forest

Signed 19th Century Louis XVI Chinoiserie Decorated Commode by Maison Forest

By Forest A' Paris

Located in Miami, FL

Louis XVI Chinoiserie decorated bronze-mounted marble top commode by Maison Forest, Paris.

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Bronze

Regency Style Chinoiserie Decorated Black Lacquered Chest
Regency Style Chinoiserie Decorated Black Lacquered Chest

Regency Style Chinoiserie Decorated Black Lacquered Chest

Located in New York, NY

Regency Style Chinoiserie Decorated Black Lacquered Chest fo Four Drawers. Fluted Side Columns and

Category

Antique 19th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Early 20th Century Chinoiserie Chest of Drawers Black and Multi-Color Lacquer
Early 20th Century Chinoiserie Chest of Drawers Black and Multi-Color Lacquer

Early 20th Century Chinoiserie Chest of Drawers Black and Multi-Color Lacquer

Located in Firenze, IT

chinoiserie colored motifs, original marble top and bronze details, all in perfect condition and beautiful

Category

Vintage 1920s French Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble, Bronze

ITALIAN BAROQUE RED CHINOISERIE LACQUER SLANT-FRONT BUREAU
ITALIAN BAROQUE RED CHINOISERIE LACQUER SLANT-FRONT BUREAU

ITALIAN BAROQUE RED CHINOISERIE LACQUER SLANT-FRONT BUREAU

Located in San Francisco, CA

A MAGNIFICANT ITALIAN BAROQUE RED CHINOISERIE LACQUER SERPENTINE FRONTED SLANT-FRONT BUREAU FITTED

Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Victorian Bamboo and Lacquer Chinoiserie Chest of Drawers
Victorian Bamboo and Lacquer Chinoiserie Chest of Drawers

Victorian Bamboo and Lacquer Chinoiserie Chest of Drawers

Located in New York, NY

Victorian Bamboo and Lacquered Four Drawer Chest with Original Brass Hardware, Late 19th Century

Category

Antique 19th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Queen Anne Period Black Chinoiserie lacquered chest of drawers
Queen Anne Period Black Chinoiserie lacquered chest of drawers

Queen Anne Period Black Chinoiserie lacquered chest of drawers

Located in New York, NY

Queen Anne Period Black Chinoiserie lacquered chest of drawer. Original lacquer.

Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Pine, Gesso

Stunning Quality Highly Decorative Chinoiserie Lacquered Chest on Chest
Stunning Quality Highly Decorative Chinoiserie Lacquered Chest on Chest

Stunning Quality Highly Decorative Chinoiserie Lacquered Chest on Chest

Located in Darwen, GB

Stunning quality highly decorative chinoiserie lacquered chest on chest. The upper section having

Category

Antique Early 1900s Edwardian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Stunning Quality Highly Decorative Chinoiserie Lacquered Chest on Chest
Stunning Quality Highly Decorative Chinoiserie Lacquered Chest on Chest

Stunning Quality Highly Decorative Chinoiserie Lacquered Chest on Chest

Located in Darwen, GB

A stunning quality highly decorative chinoiserie lacquered chest on chest. Having an upper section

Category

Antique Early 1900s Edwardian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

18th Century Queen Ann Black Lacquer, Chinese Chinoiserie Chest
18th Century Queen Ann Black Lacquer, Chinese Chinoiserie Chest

18th Century Queen Ann Black Lacquer, Chinese Chinoiserie Chest

Located in Kent, GB

A very rare and finely decorated Queen Ann black lacquer, Chinese chinoiserie chest. Decorated on

Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier British Queen Anne Commodes and Chests ...

Queen Anne Black Lacquered Chinoiserie Japanned Chest on Stand
Queen Anne Black Lacquered Chinoiserie Japanned Chest on Stand

Queen Anne Black Lacquered Chinoiserie Japanned Chest on Stand

Located in Bradford on Avon, GB

The chinoiserie decoration to the drawer fronts is in an untouched state with the original handles

Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Louis XV Style 19th Century Chinoiserie Commode in the Style of Jacques Dubois
Louis XV Style 19th Century Chinoiserie Commode in the Style of Jacques Dubois

Louis XV Style 19th Century Chinoiserie Commode in the Style of Jacques Dubois

By Jacques Dubois

Located in Armadale, Victoria

With a serpentine marble top over two long drawers with a continuous village scene in painted raised relief, depicting figures in landscape with pagoda, cart and kite, each drawer wi...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Chinoiserie Chest
Chinoiserie Chest

Chinoiserie Chest

Located in Sarasota, FL

This Chinoiserie Chest from Sanxi, China has three drawers across the top, middle pair of drawers

Category

Early 20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Gold Leaf

Early 18th Century Queen Anne Chinoiserie Black Lacquered Chest of Drawers
Early 18th Century Queen Anne Chinoiserie Black Lacquered Chest of Drawers

Early 18th Century Queen Anne Chinoiserie Black Lacquered Chest of Drawers

Located in San Francisco, CA

An Extraordinary Early 18th c. Queen Anne Chinoiserie Black Lacquered Chest of Drawers, with a pair

Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Commodes and Chests of Drawers

English Lacquered Bamboo Chest of Drawers
English Lacquered Bamboo Chest of Drawers

English Lacquered Bamboo Chest of Drawers

Located in Stamford, CT

Circa 1870s English Chinoiserie style bamboo chest of drawers in a black lacquered finish with

Category

Antique 1870s English Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Bamboo, Wood

English Lacquered Bamboo Chest 19th Century
English Lacquered Bamboo Chest 19th Century

English Lacquered Bamboo Chest 19th Century

Located in Stamford, CT

Circa 1870s Chinoiserie style three drawer chest of drawers in a black lacquered finish with floral

Category

Antique 1870s English Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Bamboo, Wood

Superb Georgian Chinoiserie Chest
Superb Georgian Chinoiserie Chest

Superb Georgian Chinoiserie Chest

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Exquisite quality and design. Wonderful Chinese red background with fine gilt appointments featuring flora and birds.

Category

Antique Early 19th Century English Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

CENTURY Chin Hua Raymond Sobota Asian Chinoiserie Gentleman's Chest - A
CENTURY Chin Hua Raymond Sobota Asian Chinoiserie Gentleman's Chest - A

CENTURY Chin Hua Raymond Sobota Asian Chinoiserie Gentleman's Chest - A

By Raymond Sabota, Century Furniture

Located in Charlotte, NC

Hua" line designed by Raymond K Sobota. Burl maple with black lacquer trim, brass hardware, banded top

Category

Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

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Commodes Chinoiserie Lacquer For Sale on 1stDibs

At 1stDibs, there are many versions of the ideal piece of commodes chinoiserie lacquer for your home. Frequently made of wood, lacquer and metal, every item from our selection of commodes chinoiserie lacquer was constructed with great care. Your living room may not be complete without a choice in our collection of commodes chinoiserie lacquer — find older editions for sale from the 18th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 21st Century. An object in our assortment of commodes chinoiserie lacquer is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in Louis XV, Mid-Century Modern and Georgian styles are sought with frequency. You’ll likely find more than one option in this array of commodes chinoiserie lacquer that is appealing in its simplicity, but Baker Furniture Company, John Widdicomb and Alfonso Marina produced versions that are worth a look.

How Much is a Commodes Chinoiserie Lacquer?

Prices for a piece of commodes chinoiserie lacquer start at $665 and top out at $261,893 with the average selling for $5,750.

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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