Early 19th Century French Commode
Located in London, GB
French 19th century commode with original painted decoration
Antique 1820s French Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 19th Century French Commode
Located in London, GB
French 19th century commode with original painted decoration
Wood
Sold|$3,800
French Directoire Style Chest
Located in New Preston, CT
French three-drawer directoire chest of drawers with fluted detail.
Sold|$7,500
French Directoire tall chest
Located in Hudson, NY
French Directoire tall chest of drawers. Original brass pulls.Fruitwood.
Brass
Sold|$3,500
Directoire Style French Chest
Located in Miami, FL
Beautiful Directoire Style Marble top Chest of Drawers. Wonderful condition, quality, coloration
Marble, Bronze
Sold|$2,250
French Directoire Style Chest
Located in New Jersey City, NJ
Walnut wood Original marble top
19th Century Pair of Mahogany Directoire Style Bedside Commodes
Located in London, GB
A fine pair of late 19th century brass-mounted mahogany bedside commodes, or nightstands, each
19th Century French Directoire Style Chest with Marble Top
Located in Atlanta, GA
19th century French directoire style chest with marble top and three drawers.
Marble
French Directoire Style Cherrywood Chest of Drawers, circa 1930s
Located in Austin, TX
A handsome tall chest of drawers made of solid cherrywood in the Directoire style, circa 1930s. The
Brass
Sold|$6,400
Antique French commode.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Period French Directoire walnut marble top commode.
Marble
Sold|$3,300
French Walnut Commode
Located in Fairhope, AL
French Directoire style commode made of walnut from the late 19th century. The commode has a small
Wood
French Directoire Style Fruitwood Three-Drawer Chest, circa 1810
Located in Atlanta, GA
French Directoire style fruitwood three-drawer chest, circa 1810.
Brass
Sold|$7,800
French Directoire period tall chest
Located in Boston, MA
French Directoire period tall chest with marble top and brass gallery and original hardware. Signed
Brass
Early 19th Century French Provincial Cherrywood Commode
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
An early 19th century French Provincial cherrywood commode in the Empire taste, with a lovely color
Cherry
Vintage French Directoire Style Chest in Black Painted Finish
Located in Houston, TX
This vintage French chest of drawers has been newly painted in a satin black finish. With three
Wood, Paint
Sold|$5,500
Directoire Walnut Inlaid Chest
Located in San Francisco, CA
A nice small scaled Directoire period walnut inlaid chest made in France or Italy during the first
Wood
Sold|$3,900
Early 19th Century French Two-Drawer Commode
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
A simple and elegant early 19th century French fruitwood two-drawer commode with early hardware
Fruitwood
Sold|$2,200
French Directoire style Chest of Drawers
Located in Miami, FL
Beautiful French directoire style chest of drawers. Classical lines, bronze mounts, fruit wood
Wood
Sold|$6,750
19th c French commode
Located in Houston, TX
19th c French Directoire style 2 drawer commode with marble top
Marble, Brass
Sold|$44,000
Directoire chest of drawers
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional mahogany chest of drawers.With bronze decoration on doors and handles.Original marble top.
It has one central drawer and opens on 3 drawers.
19th Century Painted French Commode with Faux Marble Top
Located in Fairhope, AL
This is a very good looking painted French commode that dates to the latter part of the 19th
Sold|$5,500
French Walnut Directoire Four drawer Chest
Located in Hudson, NY
A FOUR DRAWER DIRECTOIR WALNUT CHEST WITH ORIGINAL FINISH.
Walnut
French Directoire Period Mahogany "Pantalonier" Commode
Located in New Orleans, LA
French Directoire period mahogany "pantalonier" commode, with upper cabinet over four drawers
Walnut
Sold|$4,200
Directoire chest
Located in New Jersey City, NJ
Masculine directoire chest in oak. With an interesting inlay on the top. A letter with a
Late 18th Century French Mahogany and Marble Commode with Paw Feet
Located in New York, NY
Mahogany three drawer commode with brass trim, carved paw feet and marble top.
Marble, Brass
Sold|$13,750
Bleached Oak Commode
Located in New York, NY
Two drawer bleached oak commode with paneled drawers, chamfered corners and tapered legs
Oak
Sold|$5,000
Painted Four Drawer Commode
Located in New York, NY
Painted four drawer, two-color commode with flat pilasters and tapered legs
Wood
19th C French Walnut Directoire Style Banquette/Settee
Located in Miami, FL
Beautiful, elegant French 19th Century, carved walnut frame, banquette/settee/sofa/loveseat
Walnut, Mohair
Sold|$4,200
Marble-Top Mahogany Commode
Located in Birmingham, AL
Mahogany three drawer commode with marble top.
Mahogany
Sold|$3,500
Directoire style semaniere
Located in Hudson, NY
Directoire style semaniere. French 1940's.
Brass
Sold|$4,200
19th Century Walnut Commode
Located in New Orleans, LA
Early 19th century Petrin commode. The top opens up with hinges and leaves two functional drawers
Metal
Sold|$2,400
Painted Directoire Chest
Located in Bridgehampton, NY
Directoire chest with recent paint. Fine original hardware and ormolu mounts.
Sold|$8,750
Walnut and Marble Commode
Located in New York, NY
Walnut commode with three short drawers over two long drawers, stop-fluted side supports and square
Marble
Sold|$4,650
Pair of Jansen Ebonized Commodes
By Maison Jansen
Located in Oaks, PA
In the Directoire Style, each fitted with three Long drawers ,gilt highlights and brass hardware
Brass
Sold|$7,200
French Directoire Mahogany Commode/Desk
Located in New Orleans, LA
Very sober French Directoire period "acajou satinee" mahogany commode desk, "meuble de port
Wood
Directoire Style Chest of Drawers with Leopard Pattern Hand Painted
Located in Hamburg, Hamburg
piece a contemporary feel while still staying true to its Directoire inspired style. The unique leopard
Bronze
Sold|$5,600
Painted Commode
Located in Fairhope, AL
Painted French Directoire style commode from the late 19th century. The piece has a gray faux
Wood
Sold|$5,100
Painted Commode
Located in Fairhope, AL
Painted French Directoire style commode from the mid 1800s. The piece has a gray faux marble top
Wood
18th/19th Century French Directoire Three-drawer with Marble Top
Located in Atlanta, GA
18th/19thC FRENCH DIRECTOIRE THREE-DRAWER WITH MARBLE TOP An Atlanta Resource for Fine Antiques
Sold|$7,800
Directoire Cherry Chest of Drawers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
With fronted molded edge rectangular top above a conforming case fitted with three long drawers flanked by engaged doric columns, on tapering molded square cabriole supports.
Sold|$995
18th c. Minature Commode
Located in New Orleans, LA
Beautiful patina of 18th c. Directoire' French Provincial 3 drawer commode.
Walnut
Directoire Four-Drawer Chest, Original Marble
Located in Port Chester, NY
A very elegant chest of drawers, with many fine elements. The alternating tones of the veneered panels on the four drawer fronts add to the visual impact. The color and grain of the ...
Marble
Sold|$16,000
Bleached Directoire style chest of drawers
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful bleached oak chest of drawers with original hardware, deep carvings and an amazing patina. This is a very strong piece.
Oak
Directoire Style Mahogany Chest with Marble Top
Located in Southampton, NY
Directoire Style Mahogany Chest with Marble Top, Great as a bedroom chest, a sideboard, or in a
Marble
Sold|$8,600
Directoire Style Commode
Located in New Orleans, LA
18th century French 2 drawer Walnut Commode on square tapered legs
Walnut
Sold|$45,000
Pair of Signed Maison Jansen Commodes
By Maison Jansen
Located in London, GB
Fine ebonised French Directoire Style commodes with original white marble tops, stamped Jansen
Brass
Sold|$5,650
Early 19th C Directoire Walnut Commode
Located in New Orleans, LA
Early 19th century walnut French commode. Elegant simple Lines with beautiful patina.
Brass
Polished Metal Chest of Drawers, France, Early 20th Century
Located in New York, NY
Richly Patinated and Polished Metal Chest of Drawers in the Directoire Style of the Late 18th
Antique French Bronze Mounted Chest Marble top
Located in Houston, TX
Antique French Louis XVI style bronze mounted chest with grey marble top in classic directoire form
Marble, Bronze
Sold|$1,695
Petite Vintage French Chest
Located in Charlottesville, VA
A perfectly petite vintage French style chest of drawers in recent custom paint. The 1960s two over
Sold|$7,600
Late 18th Century French Cherry "Semainier"
Located in New Orleans, LA
Late 18th century French cherry "semainier" with ebony inlay and "gris de Ste. Anne" marble top
Marble
Sold|$7,477
Early 19th Century French Directoire Commode
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Early 19th century French Directoire commode. A fine quality and with elegant proportions
Mahogany
18th Century Ebonized French Directoire Commode
Located in Vienna, AT
An exceptional quality ebonized French Directoire commode with a marble top and brass inlaid. The
Marble, Brass
Sold|$6,400
Early 19th Century French Directoire Commode
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
A fine early 19th century French three-drawer Directoire commode with brass rectangular handles
Small French Directoire Walnut Marble-Top Commode
Located in Chamblee, GA
This is a lovely small scale chest dating to the late 1700s or early 1800s. There are three long drawers flanked by fluted columns. It has the original hardware and hand hewn marble.
Brass
Early 19th Century French Empire Directoire Commode
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a beautiful 1840's French commode with a black marble top is made of solid wood covered in
Marble, Brass
Sold|$3,850
Two-Drawer Walnut Directoire Country Commode
Located in Port Chester, NY
A well sized two-drawer commode from early 19th century, France. Fashioned in walnut with nice
Walnut
Late 18th Century Directoire Period Mahogany Commode
Located in London, GB
A finely figured late 18th century Directoire Period mahogany commode of generous proportions, the
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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