Pair of French Directoire Style Chests of Drawers
Located in Austin, TX
Antique French Directoire style chests of drawers in hand-painted cherrywood, each with three dovetailed drawers, bronze hardware and feet. A strong pair of case pieces with a soft f...
Bronze
Pair of Directoire Period Mahogany and Marble Top Commodes
Located in London, GB
A pair of Directoire period mahogany and marble top commodes, attributed to Bernard Molitor (1755-1833), having black Belgian fossil marble top, lion masked handles and being raised ...
French Directoire Style Antique Painted Chest of Drawers
Located in Austin, TX
Antique French Directoire style chest of drawers with a lightly patinated dove grey painted finish and white detailing in the fluted columns flanking the centrally located drawers. G...
Bronze
Painted Directoire Style French Chest of Drawers
Located in Austin, TX
Chest with good, clean proportions and painted a light "Trianon" gray color. This piece has a wonderful, intact Carrara marble slab and beautiful brass hardware original to the chest...
Carrara Marble, Brass
Midcentury French Neoclassical Painted Commode
Located in Dallas, TX
Midcentury French neoclassical painted commode is a study in both style and efficiency! Tailored, classical lines are enhanced by the patinaed painted finish, with three spacious dra...
Oak
French Directoire Style Mahogany Chest with Brass Trim
Located in Dallas, TX
Lovely French Directoire style mahogany chest with brass trim. The chest also has a beautiful Carrara marble top. A Classic that mixes well with many styles!
Carrara Marble
19th Century French Neoclassical Fruitwood Directoire Chest of Drawers
Located in Hopewell, NJ
An exquisite, early 19th century Louis XVI two drawer Neoclassical commode in the Directoire style. The chest is adorned with original lion head pulls on each of the drawers, along w...
Marble
Sold|$3,995
French 19th Century Walnut Commode
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This neoclassical Directoire French commode would be a wonderful addition to both contemporary and traditional interiors, and the narrow depth makes it perfect for a foyer, hallway,...
Brass
Sold|$3,200
French Antique Directoire Period Chest
Located in Austin, TX
Beautiful French antique Directoire period chest of drawers in solid hand painted walnut, lost wax cast bronze hardware.
Sold|$5,100
Directoire Painted Semainier
Located in New York, NY
A painted "semainier" chest with seven drawers (for seven days of the week) and a marble top. The lovely geometric designs on drawers are characteristic of the Directoire p...
Sold|$1,869
French Directoire Style High Chest
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Directoire Style High Chest with 6 Drawers. PLEASE VISIT OUR 1,500+ ITEMS WEBSITE: WWW.SWEDISHANTIQUES.BIZ
Wood
Pair of 20th Century French Directoire Style Mahogany Chests
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a good pair of French Directoire style mahogany commodes. They have gray variegated marble tops with rounded corners over conforming case with three long drawers bordered by ...
Marble, Brass
Sold|$5,750
French Directoire Period Side Table
Located in Round Top, TX
A very beautiful early 19th century Directoire period Side Table from the South of France. Wonderfully constructed from handsome walnut with 2 drawers raised on tapered legs. Gorgeou...
Walnut
Sold|$12,500
French Late 18th Century Walnut Commode
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A gorgeous fine quality commode, circa 1800. In top condition with all of its original parts. The shaped walnut top with chamfered corners sits over the well thought out and detailed...
Brass
French Mid-19th Century Ebonized Directoire Style Chest of Drawers
Located in Kastrup, DK
French mid-19th century Directoire / Louis XVI period style three-drawer commode.
Mahogany
Early 19th Century French Three Drawer Commode
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
An elegant French commode, called a "Sauteuse" because of it's shapely, long legs ready to spring forth! Original ebonised finish with decorative brass drawer handles and escutcheons...
Wood
Sold|$4,800
Antique French Commode with Paw Feet
Located in Highwood, IL
Petite antique French commode, or if you prefer chest of drawers that is wonderfully scaled and small enough to be used as a nightstand, or in an entry- hall. Either way, the scale m...
19th Century French Directoire Black Lacquered Chest with Marble Top
Located in Dallas, TX
This item is a gorgeous 19th Century French Directoire Black Lacquered Chest with Marble. The chest showcases a French style with a black color and a marble top, adding elegance and ...
Marble
Sold|$3,240 / set
Pair of Louis XVI/Directoire Style Petites Commodes or Nightstands
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is a very hard-to-find pair of French Provincial petites commodes. The commodes feature solid walnut construction, pegged joinery, dovetailed drawers, serpentine skirts and char...
Brass
Quality Antique French Mahogany Commode, 18th Century
Located in Benington, Herts
A fine quality antique late 18th century French figured mahogany commode with marble top standing on front paw. Retaining its original fossilized grey marble top sitting above three ...
Marble
French Directoire Style Ebonized Dresser manner of Maison Jansen
By Maison Jansen
Located in Stamford, CT
French Directoire style dresser, overall ebonized and parcel-gilt, the rectangular top over a conforming case fitted with nine drawers, flanked by bronze mounts, each drawer banded a...
19th Century French Ebonised Three Drawer Commode
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
A Louis XV ebonised, three drawer commode. With marble top and brass gallery. France, Circa 1850.
Marble, Brass
Maison Jansen Mahogany Commode or Chest, Bronze Mounted, Directoire Style, 1940s
By Maison Jansen
Located in Stamford, CT
Maison Jansen Mahogany Commode or Chest, Bronze Mounted, Directoire Style, 1940s A Jansen commode having two larger drawers under a smaller drawer with inverted sides and bronze mo...
Carrara Marble, Bronze
18th Century French Walnut Directoire Comode with Black Belgian Marble Top
Located in Dallas, TX
Very nice antique French DIrectoire style walnut commode with black Belgian marble top.
Belgian Black Marble
Sold|$3,950
Directoire Style Ebonized Chest
Located in Austin, TX
Chest of drawers, French, of mahogany ebonized and French polished, finely cast bronze hardware.
Bronze
French 19th Century Fruitwood & Burl Walnut Commode
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This handsome French commode is made of fruitwood and finished in burl walnut. The large drawer fronts feature burl walnut veneer that has been applied in rectangular panels, giving ...
Brass
Fantastic 1850s era Italian Made Formal Walnut Directoire Style Commode
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
The piece shown here is a much higher form of Italian-made commode than most we see or have and has the hottest styling of those days in Europe- French Directoire.
Brass
Sold|$4,800
French Ebonized Commode
Located in Stamford, CT
French Directoire style three drawer commode, overall ebonized and parcel-gilt, each drawer has gilt banding, raised on squared tapering legs.
Wood
Directoire Marble Top Commode with Bronze Mounts Attributed to Maison Jansen
By Maison Jansen
Located in Stamford, CT
A fine Louis XVI style commode attributed to Maison Jansen. The tapering reeded legs supporting a set of three bronze framed graduating drawers flanked by reeded corner columns termi...
Sold|$6,750
18th Century Directoire Chest
Located in High Point, NC
18th century French oak chest from the Directoire period. The chest has been painted later with wonderful chinoiserie decoration.
Oak, Paint
Late 19th Century French Bleached Mahogany and Brass Directoire Style Chest
Located in Dallas, TX
Handsome late 19th century French bleached mahogany and brass Directoire style chest. This piece would work well in a variety of setting. Great size and 3 drawers for storage. So pre...
Brass
French Directoire Style Painted Chest of Drawers
Located in Austin, TX
Charming hand-painted and gold-leafed French Directoire style chest of drawers. Original paint refreshed with milk paint. Original lost wax bronzes. Great size and construction.
Sold|$3,980
Antique Directoire Marble Top Chiffoniere
Located in Dallas, TX
The formal chiffoniere, modeled after the semainier is a more sensible solution to keeping one's fine clothing organized. This example, with tailored architecture that calls attentio...
French Directoire Period Walnut Chest of Drawers
Located in Austin, TX
Stunning antique French Directoire period chest of drawers in solid and burled walnut, cast bronze hardware, three drawers, in wonderful condition.
Walnut
French 18th Century Burl & Marble Top Commode
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
An amazing burl commode from France crafted circa 1750. The charcoal and white marble top is absolutely stunning. The geometric inlay work throughout the piece is in wonderful condit...
Stone, Marble, Brass
Late 18th Century French Directoire Chest Of Drawers with Secretary Compartment
Located in Greven, DE
Fine Directoire chest of drawers with secretary compartment France Cherry tree and others late 18th century Dimensions: H x W x D: 88 x 103 x 55 cm - Height of writing surface: 70 ...
Marble
Sold|$4,320
19th Century Directoire Style Chest
Located in Stockbridge, GA
19th century Directoire style chest with a black marble-top.
Marble, Bronze
French Directoire Marble-Top Chest of Drawers
Located in Austin, TX
French antique, Directoire style chest of drawers of ebonized mahogany with a lustrous French polish finish, Carrara marble top and brass trim on all three sides. Three dovetailed dr...
Carrara Marble, Brass, Bronze
Directoire-Style Chest of Drawers, France, First Half of the 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Seven-drawered French chest of drawers or Semainiere. The chest shows fluted three-quarter columns on the corners and a beautiful mahogany veneer at the front. The chest is topped wi...
Marble, Brass
French Directoire Style Light Blue Painted Marble Top Dresser Semanie
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
For customers that require professional insured delivery we are proud to have teamed up with a nationwide professional delivery company that will assist with coordinating your delive...
Carrara Marble
Early 19th Century Directoire Bachelor's Chest
Located in High Point, NC
19th century French oak bachelor's chest of drawers of the Directoire period. The top is beveled around the edge and has wonderful graining. The case is paneled on the sides and cont...
Brass
French Directoire Period Solid Walnut Chest of Drawers
Located in Austin, TX
Beautiful antique French Directoire period chest of drawers in solid blonde walnut with original marble top and lost wax bronze hardware.
Marble
French Directoire Period Solid Walnut Chest of Drawers
Located in Austin, TX
Beautiful French antique Directoire period solid walnut chest of drawers, very good proportion, great patina and lines for a classic piece that will bring warmth to your contemporary...
Walnut
French Directoire Style Hand-Painted Chest of Drawers
Located in Austin, TX
Charming French Directoire chest in solid fir, hand painted and patined. Great size and proportions, lost wax bronze hardware. A very nicely crafted chest for a bedroom or an entryway.
Fir
French Directoire Style Chest of Drawers by Jansen
Located in Stamford, CT
French Directoire style mahogany chest of drawers, circa 1940s, the rectangular top over a frieze fitted with two narrow drawers with bronze banding, atop a conforming case fitted wi...
Wood
Sold|$11,701 / set
Pair of Antique 18th-century French Commodes in Rustic Light Gray Patina
Located in Baambrugge, NL
Pair of antique 18th-century French commodes. This stylish pair of commodes from the Directoire period features doors with a large diamond pattern and fluted details on the slanted l...
Oak
Sold|$5,800
Directoire Chest
Located in Seattle, WA
Late 18th-early 19th century Directoire chest. Three-drawer, key with tassel. Wear and some warping or cracking which is expected due to age and use.
Fruitwood
Antique Directoire Style Painted Chest of Drawers
Located in Austin, TX
Wonderful painted chest of drawers in the Directoire style. This piece has excellent sharp lines and striking brass hardware, with working locks and keys on all three drawers. It has...
French Directoire Style Dark Green Chest by Jansen
By Maison Jansen
Located in Stamford, CT
French Directoire style dark green painted and parcel-gilt chest of drawers, circa 1940s, the gilt-glass top over a conforming case fitted with three drawers, flanked by fluted uprig...
Wood, Glass
French Directoire Style Mahogany Lingerie Chest by Jansen
By Maison Jansen
Located in Stamford, CT
A fine French Directoire style mahogany lingerie chest of drawers, the rectangular top with bronze banding over a conforming case fitted with six drawers, each decorated with bronze ...
French Directoire Solid Oak & Cherrywood Chest of Drawers
Located in Austin, TX
Antique French Directoire style chest of drawers in solid oak and cherry wood, with inlaid trims in a "losange" motif on each of three dovetailed drawers, top, and legs. Lost wax bro...
Bronze
French Directoire Carrara Marble Top Chest of Drawers
Located in Austin, TX
French antique Directoire style chest of drawers in mahogany, ebonized and French polished, with a gorgeous veined Carrara marble top. Three dovetailed drawers with brass hardware. H...
Carrara Marble, Brass
French 1940s Directoire Style Fruitwood Chest of Drawers
Located in Buchanan, NY
A beautiful three drawer Directoire style French 1940s chest of drawers in light colored fruitwood with contrasting darker wood inlays. In very good vintage condition, it has been re...
Fruitwood
Sold|$8,000
Maison Jansen Commodes
By Maison Jansen
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of French chests by Maison Jansen. Ebony stained wood with nickel details and marble tops.
Marble, Nickel
C. 1870's Antique French Directoire Walnut Side Chest
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This is a classic French Directoire-style chest of drawers, also known as a commode, reflecting the refined neoclassical design sensibilities of the late 18th to early 19th century.
Walnut
Sold|$5,200
French Marble Top Demilune Commode
Located in Stamford, CT
A fine French Directoire style demilune commode, the bow-shaped marble atop a half-moon case fitted with four drawers each with ebony marquetry banding, over a bronze decorated apron...
Marble
An Early 19th Century French Directoire Walnut Semainier
Located in Atlanta, GA
having an antique rectangular dark grey marble top above a case with raised molded edges and side panels, the front corners with carved capitals, the 6 drawers (bottom drawer is the ...
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.
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