Distressed Commode
Mid-20th Century Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Vintage 1950s French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique Early 1900s Swedish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Paint
Vintage 1950s American Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1880s Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Paint
Antique Early 1900s Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-20th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Vintage 1950s French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique Early 1900s Italian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Vintage 1950s Italian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Beech
Early 20th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of ...
Wood
Antique 18th Century French Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique 18th Century French French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Wood, Paint
Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Elm
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of ...
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of ...
Wood
Antique Early 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Vintage 1960s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Silver Leaf
20th Century Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Asian French Provincial Commodes and Chest...
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Asian French Provincial Commodes and Chest...
Wood
Antique Mid-18th Century Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of ...
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 2000s Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Vintage 1940s Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique 1790s French French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Late 20th Century Italian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Paint
21st Century and Contemporary Asian French Provincial Commodes and Chest...
Wood
Antique 19th Century Italian Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 2000s European Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Mid-18th Century German Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Softwood
Antique 19th Century Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of ...
Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests o...
Pine
1990s Italian Baroque Revival Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Tulipwood
Vintage 1960s American Hollywood Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1940s Italian Rococo Revival Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
20th Century British Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Yew
20th Century British Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 2000s Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 2000s Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1980s American Hollywood Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Paint
Antique 1720s French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Beech, Poplar
Antique 1790s French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1820s Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
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Distressed Commode For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Distressed Commode?
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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