Unavailable|$1,495 / set
Pair of Maison Jensen Commodes with Marble Tops, 20th Century
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A great pair of commodes with gold details and shaped marble tops. As pictured, one has a single
Unavailable|$6,000
French Empire Marble Top Chest with Bronze Mounts circa1860
Located in Atlanta, GA
French Empire marble top chest with bronze mounts, beautiful patina.
Marble, Bronze
Unavailable|$5,410
Empire Mahogany Chest
Located in New Orleans, LA
Empire style mahogany chest with marble top.
Marble
Unavailable|$2,240
19th Century Empire Style Drawers on Stand
Located in New York, NY
Empire style commode with three drawers of walnut burl. Fine detail carved brass, escutcheons, head
Marble, Bronze
Unavailable|$3,500
French Country Empire Chest of Drawers
Located in Toronto, ON
metal. The marble top was added in the resent years, is dark brown with white and orange vanes.
Marble, Brass
Unavailable|$3,200
Miniature Empire Commode
Located in Toronto, ON
Miniature form mahogany French Empire chest with marble top.
Marble, Brass
Unavailable|$13,114
Fruitwood Continental Chest circa 1815 with Marble Top
Located in Glencarse, GB
An Empire chest circa 1815 comprising three long drawers and one concealed drawer. All drawers are
Fruitwood
Unavailable|$16,531 / item
Stunning, Louis XV French empire chest of drawers, fantastic bronze detailing
Located in Worthing, GB
A matching pair of fantastic bronze mounted chest of drawers. Priced individually. The quality is exceptional.
Marble, Bronze
Antique Black Ebonized Silver Empire Chest of Drawers from France, 19th Century
Located in Vienna, AT
An original antique Empire chest of drawers from the early 19th century from France. The corpus of
Marble, Bronze
Pair of 19th Century French Ebonized Marble-Top Empire Four-Drawer Commodes
Located in New York, NY
French 19th century Empire commodes. Marble tops. Bronze hardware and trim. Four drawers. Top
Wood
Commode Empire France Napoleon III, 19th Century
By Empire Furniture
Located in Madrid, ES
Commode Empire France Napoleon III 19th century Wood and marble Perfect condition - Original
Marble
Sold|$3,200
French 19th Century Empire Style Commode
By Empire Furniture
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
French 1820's Empire style commode. Original old marble top sits over burled and bookmarked walnut
Sold|$12,500
Russian Empire Marble Chest or Commode
Located in Milford, NH
A spectacular Russian Empire chest or commode with ormolu mounts, birch veneers, full front corner
Marble
Sold|$4,600
Period Empire Mahogany Marble-Top Commode
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Period Empire mahogany and bronze, marble-top commode with exceptional detailing, condition, and
Marble, Bronze
Sold|$6,795
French Empire Mahogany & Marble Commode
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
French Empire style crotch mahogany 4 drawer chest of drawers. Wonderful old marble sits over this
Sold|$3,280
First Empire Mahogany Marble Top Commode
Located in Dallas, TX
Empire Period commode was produced from exotic imported mahogany from the Americas, and boasts
Marble, Bronze
Sold|$4,072
Empire Style Marble Top Commode
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Early 20th C Empire style Italian oak commode with 8 drawers and a thick marble top. 1940. The
Marble
19th Century Empire Mahogany Commode with Marble
Located in New Orleans, LA
Late 19th Century Empire Mahogny (Acajou) Commode with Marble
Marble
19th Century Walnut Empire Marble Top Commode
Located in New Orleans, LA
French, 19th c. Empire figure commode of walnut with a variegated marble top. Features four
Marble
19th Century French Empire Marble-Top Commode
Located in Hixson, TN
This beautiful French Empire commode is crafted in mahogany with flamed bookmatched drawer fronts
Marble
Sold|$3,998
Empire Commode with Marble Top, 19th Century
Located in New Orleans, LA
and a ring of brass at the base. The wood is beautifully striated all around. The marble top is a
Marble
19th Century French Empire Marble-Top Cherry Commode
Located in Richmond, VA
Gorgeous color on this 19th century French Empire four drawer marble top cherry commode.
Marble
Sold|$3,850
French Empire Marble Top Walnut Commode
Located in Bradenton, FL
French Empire period marble-top walnut commode, mid 19th century. Commode features brass hardware
Marble
French 19th Century Empire Walnut & Marble Commode
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
French Empire commode with white marble top over walnut chest. Classic Empire pole legs with top
French 19th Century Empire Walnut & Marble Commode
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A gorgeous Empire commode with original black fossil marble over commode of four drawers, flanked
Antique French Empire Style Marble-Top Mahogany Commode
Located in Sheridan, CO
French Empire style mahogany commode, 19th c., having marble top, frieze drawer, over three
Marble, Brass
Sold|$5,610
19c Empire Commode with Marble
Located in New Orleans, LA
Empire Commode with Marble Top
Walnut
Sold|$3,600
French Empire Marble Top Walnut Commode
Located in Bradenton, FL
French Louis Philippe Marble Top Walnut Commode, mid 19th century. Exemplary craftsmanship of the
Marble
French 19th Century Empire Mahogany & Marble Commode
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
French Empire crotch mahogany 4 drawer chest of drawers. Wonderful old marble sits over this unique
French 19th Century Empire Walnut & Marble Commode
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
French Empire burled walnut and matched, 3 drawer chest of drawers. Wonderful old marble sits over
Sold|$3,600
French Empire Marble Top Walnut Commode
Located in Bradenton, FL
French Louis Philippe Marble Top Walnut Commode, mid 19th century. Exemplary craftsmanship of the
Marble
French 19th Century Walnut Empire Commode with Marble Top
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
Extraordinary bookmatched walnut veneer graces this gorgeous Empire period commode from France. The
Marble
Rich French Mahogany Empire Commode with Black Marble Top
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Very elegant French Empire rich mahogany commode having stunning black marble top, original brass
Marble
Antique French Empire Bronze Mounted Marble Top Commode Buffet
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a gorgeous original 1880s era French Empire commode with marble top and bronze hardware and
Marble, Bronze
French 19th Century Walnut Empire Commode with Marble Top
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This excellent French Empire marble-top commode has four total drawers and fossilized specimens
Marble, Brass
19th Century French Empire Chestnut Commode Chest Marble Top
Located in London, GB
This important and rare antique French Empire commode was crafted from the most beautiful chestnut
Marble, Ormolu
French Empire Flame Mahogany Marble Top Commode
Located in North York, ON
Exquisite detailed piece of Fine French Empire furniture, this piece has its original warm deep
Marble
19th Century French Empire Commode with Marble Top
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A stunning four-drawer Empire commode, made in France, circa 1860. A thick piece of gray marble
Sold|$42,800 / set
Pair 2nd Empire Fruitwood Marble Top Commodes
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of 2nd Empire, clipped corner, fruitwood commodes with original Carrara marble tops, gilded
Carrara Marble, Bronze
Impressive Antique Flame Mahogany French Empire Commode with Marble Top
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Period French empire gorgeous flame mahogany commode with beautiful escutcheons and knobs and
Marble
Empire marble Top Brass Inlaid Commode
Located in Westwood, NJ
Empire marble top brass inlaid three drawer commode with ebonized columns and feet.
Sold|$7,250
French Empire Walnut Commode
Located in Woodbury, CT
French Empire walnut, marble-top three-drawer commode with brass pulls and shield escutcheons. The
Marble
French 19th Century Empire Petite Walnut Commode with Marble Top
Located in Hopewell, NJ
French 19th century Empire commode having lovely bookmatched walnut and gray fossil marble top that
Marble
Late 18th Century French Empire Cherry Marble Top Commode
Located in Carmine, TX
Stunning French Empire Chest from the late 18th century made of solid cherry, with original
Belgian Black Marble, Brass
A 19th Century French Empire Mahogany Commode with Marble Top
Located in London, GB
France, circa 1820 A fine early nineteenth century santos mahogany Empire commode, with three
Marble
Sold|$29,500
Russian Empire Commode Secretary
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An exceptional Russian Empire fruitwood and ebonized 4 drawer chest/secretary. The top drawer
Lapis Lazuli, Marble, Carrara Marble, Brass
19th Century Empire Walnut Commode with Ebonized Columns & Black Marble Top
Located in Atlanta, GA
Empire Period commode with black marble top, light walnut patina, three drawers, flanking ebonized
Marble
French Empire Period Walnut Commode with Marble Top and Bookmatched Front
Located in Birmingham, AL
A fine 19th century French Empire period four drawer commode handcrafted of walnut, circa 1810
Marble
Antique American Empire Flame Mahogany Serpentine Marble-Top Commode, c1860
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique American Empire commode offers shaped and beveled marble top surmounting flame mahogany
Marble
French Empire Mahogany Marble-Top Commode Chest of Drawers, circa 1850
Located in South Bend, IN
Offering a beautiful mahogany French Empire commode chest of drawers from the 1850s. The four
Marble
Sold|$9,000
French Empire Style Small Commode
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire style (19th Century) mahogany small commode with bronze heads and trim with three
Marble, Bronze
Sold|$6,250
French Empire Commode
Located in Dallas, TX
A French Empire commode with bookmatched exotic veneer on walnut, topped with black marble. Narrow
Marble, Bronze
Empire Fruitwood Commode with Grey Marble Top
Located in Atlanta, GA
Empire Fruitwood commode with dark grey marble top, 3 drawers, bronze hardware and columns flanking
Fruitwood
Sold|$7,800
Antique French Empire Mahogany Commode
Located in Dallas, TX
Exceptional 19th century French Empire marble-top commode crafted of richly grained flame mahogany
Marble
Sold|$4,190
French Empire-Style Walnut Commode
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Gorgeous Empire style French marble-top commode, with four drawers; in figured walnut, circa 1860
Marble, Brass
Sold|$6,500
Empire Walnut Commode
Located in Nashville, TN
A fine Empire commode in fancy crotch walnut veneers matched from same tree (note how bottom drawer
Marble, Bronze
Sold|$2,100
Empire Style Commode
Located in Sheffield, MA
Painted Empire style chest of drawers with black marble top. Great as entry hallway piece, server
Marble
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.