19th Century Bleached French Commode Chest of Drawers
Located in Wichita, KS
This wonderful oak chest of drawers shows Louis xvi directoire detailing with clipped corder detail
Wood
Small Antique Limed Oak Commode, French, Early 19th Century
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Charming limed oak commode or chest of drawers. Provincial French in Directoire taste, early
Brass
19th Century French Directoire Marble Top Chest
Located in Richmond, VA
Gorgeous 19th century French Directoire marble top chest with rounded and fluted corners.
Marble
Superb Green and Gold Chinoiserie French Directoire Louis XVI 8 Drawer Dresser
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a truly beautiful 8 drawer French dircetoire dresser done in raised chinoiserie done in
Walnut
French Directoire West Indies Mahogany Chest of Drawers with Black Marble
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A handsome Directoire chest in West Indies mahogany with original black marble top, three drawers
Marble, Brass
Fine Quality French Bronze Mounted Marble Top Three Drawer Commode Dresser
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a beautiful commode in the Directoire style or Louis XVI style. The commode features
Marble, Bronze
Pair of Marquetry Bronze Mounted French Directoire Louis XVI Style Night Stands
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a rare pair of super-solid and extremely high quality Lane walnut directoire stands. In
Brass, Bronze
Sold|$3,500
19th Century Fruitwood Commode
Located in Houston, TX
19th century fruitwood commode with simple classic lines.
Fruitwood
Best Signed Maison Jansen Marble-Top Mahogany Directoire Triple Dresser
By Maison Jansen
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a fine example of Maison Jansen's incredible level of quality and craftsmanship. Notice the gorgeous wood quality and Ormolu, circa 1950. Triple dressers like this are imposs...
Mahogany
Antique French, Louis XVI Style Commode in an Ebonized Finish
Located in BENSENVILLE, IL
There is a part of me that would rather call this a Directoire style French commode, but I think
Maison Jansen Ebonized French Directoire Style Marble-Top Chest of Drawers
By Maison Jansen
Located in Stamford, CT
An alluring French Directoire style chest of drawers, circa 1930, a beveled white and rouge veined
Marble, Bronze
Pair of Maison Jansen Inlaid Marble-Top Commodes
By Maison Jansen
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Pair of Maison Jansen inlaid marble-top commodes with bronze mounts. Stamped "Jansen" and "Made in
Marble, Bronze
Sold|$2,400
Directoire Style Marble-Top Commode
By John Widdicomb
Located in New York, NY
Stylish Directoire style cabinet in satinwood, with marble top. Two doors open to reveal shelved
Sold|$6,500
19th Century French Painted Chest
Located in New York, NY
An early 19th century Directoire period chest with a lovely grayish white faded finish. The
French Louis XVI Style 6 Drawer Lingerie Chest, High Chest, Bedroom Furniture
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This Louis XVI style lingerie chest is made of the highest quality and looks like it could possibly be made by the world famous furniture company Baker. This chest is made of high en...
Brass
Sold|$3,500
19th Century French Walnut Commode
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A 19th century Directoire-style three-drawer French commode, the drawer fronts with bookmatched
Marble
Sold|$2,850
Late 19th Century Chest
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Late 19th century French chest, Directoire style.
Bronze
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI / Directoire Neoclassical Side Table
Located in Berlin, DE
French Directoire side table or small commode of straight rectangular shape standing on four square
Bronze
Sold|$14,700
French Directoire Marquetry Commode
Located in Larkspur, CA
19th Century French Directoire Parquetry Commode with Fold-Down Top Section Featuring Leather Pull
Early 19th Century Petite Mahogany Directoire COmmode
Located in Larkspur, CA
Early 19th Century Petite Beautifully Grained Mahogany Directoire Commode, the Top with Brass Band
Mahogany
Sold|$13,685
Antique Kingwood Parquetry Directoire Cartonnier
Located in Larkspur, CA
Turn of the Century Antique Kingwood Parquetry Directoire Style Cartonnier Stamped by Renowned
Ormolu
Sold|$34,000
Pair of Early 19th Century Directoire Commodes
Located in Larkspur, CA
Pair of Early 19th Century Directoire Fruitwood Commodes with Two Doors and Grey Marble Tops on
Marble
Pair of Early 19th Century Directoire Fruitwood Commodes
Located in Larkspur, CA
Pair of Early 19th Century Directoire Fruitwood Commodes with Two Doors and Grey Marble Tops on
Marble
Sold|$7,500
French Directoire commode.
Located in Hudson, NY
French directoire commode. Fruitwood. Original brass pulls. Early 19th Century.
Brass
Sold|$4,250
French Directoire Commode
Located in Atlanta, GA
This is a handsome 18th century, French Directoire commode in walnut with marble top and formal
Sold|$3,575
French Directoire Commode, circa 1810
Located in Stamford, CT
Three-drawer French Directoire commode that features a marble top and brass shield escutcheon
Marble, Brass
Sold|$5,000
French Directoire Commode
Located in New Orleans, LA
Beautiful French Directoire' fruitwood four drawer commode with black marble top.
Marble, Brass
Sold|$5,400
Early 19th Century French Directoire Commode
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
A large and impressive early 19th century French Directoire three drawer commode in ebony and
Fruitwood
Sold|$5,150
Late 18th Century French Directoire Commode
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
A fine quality and of elegant proportions, late 18th century French mahogany commode, with a good
French Directoire commode 'Pieds Toupie' circa 1790
Located in London, GB
French Directoire Mahogany and mahogany veneered commode. White veined marble top. Solid mahogany
Marble, Brass
Elegant 19th Century French Directoire Commode / Cabinet
Located in Miami, FL
Elegant 19th Century Directoire Commode, with classical inverted conical legs, straight brass pulls
Marble
French Directoire Commode with Inlay Marquetry
Located in San Antonio, TX
French directoire chest or commode with three large drawers that feature a marquetry diamond
Bronze
Late 18th Century French Directoire Commode in Cherrywood with Marble Top
Located in Austin, TX
Directoire style commode or buffet in cherrywood with a shaped marble top over a conforming body
Marble
Sold|$3,850
French walnut Directoire' commode
Located in New Orleans, LA
Very nice 3 drawer walnut French directoire' commode. Size perfect next to bed.
Brass
Sold|$4,600
French Directoire Period Walnut Commode
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
A fine early 19th century French Directoire commode in the Neoclassical taste with old marble top
Wood
Fine quality French Directoire Period Walnut Commode
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
A fine quality, late 18th / early 19th century, French Directoire commode in the neoclassical taste
Sold|$6,883
Late 18th Century French Walnut Commode
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
An exceptional and rare, French Directoire commode in various cuts of walnut, with an a wonderful
Walnut
Sold|$5,215
French Mahogany Directoire Commode
Located in Froxfield, Wiltshire
A fine quality French Directoire mahogany and brass inlaid commode. Retaining its original white
Brass
Sold|$4,950
French Fruitwood Directoire Style Commode
Located in Atlanta, GA
A fine 19th century French fruitwood Directoire style commode flanked by side fluted columns with
Fruitwood
Sold|$7,800
French Directoire Period Walnut Commode
Located in New Orleans, LA
Late 18th century French Directoire period walnut three-drawer commode with white marble top, circa
Marble
Sold|$7,400
Directoire Commode
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Exquisite cherry commode from France c. 1780-1800. Legs have been replaced.
Sold|$3,895
French Directoire Marble-Top Commode
Located in Charlottesville, VA
A period Directoire chest of drawers of pine, circa 1815 having a white and greenish grey veined
Pine
Sold|$5,875
Directoire Commode
Located in Montecito, CA
A three drawer walnut commode with simple lines and classic detailing. It has a wonderful warm
Brass
18th Century Directoire French Painted Commode
Located in Encinitas, CA
Very nice French period Directoire commode. Lovely blue/grey color. Old paint, but not original.
Pine
Sold|$7,857
Directoire Plum Commode
Located in London, GB
Small solid plum two drawer commode with chamfered corners terminating in out turned triangular
French Provincial Directoire Commode, circa 1800
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
A fine quality, circa 1800 French country, Directoire commode in burr elm, fruitwood and walnut
Elm, Fruitwood, Walnut
Sold|$7,500
Directoire mahogany commode
Located in New York, NY
Directoire mahogany two drawer commode with marble top
Marble
Sold|$2,895
French Directoire' faux commode
Located in New Orleans, LA
French Directioire' walnut faux commode. beautiful patina.
Brass
Sold|$5,875
French Directoire Period Commode
Located in Essex, MA
A French Louis XVI period break fronted commode in richly colored 'plum pudding' or 'muchete
Marble, Brass, Ormolu
Pair of French Ebonized Directoire Style Commodes
Located in Froxfield, Wiltshire
A very smart matched pair of French, later ebonized Directoire style commodes, circa 1800
Mahogany
18th Century French Period Directoire Walnut Commode
Located in New Orleans, LA
18th century French period Directoire walnut commode. Circa 1790
Walnut
Early 19th Century, French Directoire Mahogany Commode
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
A good quality Directoire bronze-mounted mahogany commode with exceptional colors and patina and
Marble, Bronze
Sold|$7,600
Antique French Directoire fruitwood commode.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique French Directoire fruitwood commode. Fine patina.
Fruitwood
Sold|$3,950
Directoire Style Walnut Commode
Located in New Orleans, LA
French walnut Directoire style three drawer commode. Very nice warm patina. Simple lines that can
Brass
Sold|$10,400
French Walnut Directoire Style Commode
Located in New Orleans, LA
A french three drawer walnut Directoire style commode. Each drawer is trimmed with a rounded wood
Brass
Sold|$6,200
French Directoire Period Mahogany Commode
Located in New Orleans, LA
Early 19th century French Directoire period mahogany two drawer "sauteuse" commode in the Louis XVI
Marble
Sold|$29,950
French Directoire Mahogany Marbletop Commode
Located in Corona Del Mar, CA
18th century French Mahogany Directoire Marbletop Commode. Original hardware, mounts and decorative
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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