French Directoire style 4 Drawer Chest in cherry and a white-cream finish
Located in Pontaubault, NORMANDIE
This 4 drawer chest is a handmade reproduction of the French Directoire style at the end of the 18th century. This period is remarkable for its straight, classical and timeless lines...
Brass
Large 4-Drawer Chest in Wood Designed by Eric Gizard - handcrafted in France
By Éric Gizard
Located in Pontaubault, NORMANDIE
This large 4-drawer chest is presented here in ash wood and also available in French oak. No assembly is required from your side, our furniture is fully mounted in our workshop. ...
Wood, Ash, Lacquer
French Louis XVI Style Chest Of Drawers With Gilt Work by La Maison London
Located in London, Park Royal
A beautifully handcrafted French Louis XVI–style chest of drawers, created by the master artisans at La Maison London. This statement piece features finely hand-carved vine leaves an...
Stone
18th Century Louis XV/XVI Transitional Hand Painted Marble Top Commode
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
18th Century Louis XV/XVI transitional hand painted marble top commode. Two drawers with original brass fittings and a later hand painted geometric design. Original shaped Calacatta ...
Marble
French Louis XV Style Breche d'Alep Marble Bombe Chest of Drawers Circa 1900
Located in London, Park Royal
A distinctive French Louis XV style bombe commode, France, circa 1900, with striking original Breche d’Alep marble top and exquisitely cast ormolu mounts. Raised on elegant cabriole...
Marble
Rococo Vintage Two Drawer Painted Commode
Located in Locust Valley, NY
A painted French Rococo style bombe chest. Finished in a matte white, this two drawer commode showcases hand carved scrollwork, floral motifs, and graceful cabriole legs inspired by ...
Wood
Antique European Pine Dresser With Red Distressed Paint and French Line Motif
Located in Centennial, CO
A charming antique (late 1800s or early 1900s) rustic European pine chest of drawers dresser that has been distress painted red. Modern white porcelain knobs with a red floral motif ...
Porcelain, Pine, Paint
French 3-Drawer Hand-Crafted Chiffonnier in Wood by Eric Gizard, Paris
By Éric Gizard
Located in Pontaubault, NORMANDIE
This 3-drawer chiffonnier is presented here in ash wood and is also available in French oak. No assembly is required from your side, our furniture is fully mounted in our workshop....
Wood, Ash, Lacquer
1950's Italian-Made Tasseled French Louis XV Style Distressed Painted Commode
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
An exceptionally charming and highly decorative Italian Rococo commode inspired by the celebrated designs of the French Louis XV period, this elegant two-drawer chest captures the ro...
Walnut
18th c. Provencal Painted Commode
Located in Greenwich, CT
18th century baroque commode from Provence retaining wonderful dove grey painted surface. The shaped top with molded edge over three large paneled and shaped drawers retaining gold r...
Poplar
$3,200Sale Price|20% Off
18th Century Painted Louis XVI Commode
Located in Carmine, TX
Painted Louis XVI commode hand-made in southern France in the mid 1700s using oak.
Oak
Antique Polychrome Wedding Trunk from Normandy, France, 19th Century
Located in Dallas, TX
More information coming soon… Dating to the 1800s, this polychrome trunk from Normandy, France, was likely given as a wedding dowry. Hand-painted with a dark green ground, the vibr...
Wood, Paint
$3,040Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Marble-Top Commode with Paint Decoration
Located in New York, NY
Charming marble-top dresser with paint decoration and bronze ormolu trim. We believe this example is 19th century continental possibly Italian, or French in origin. The chest has two...
Marble, Brass
Karges French Provincial Hand Painted Venetian Bombe Commode Nightstand Chest
By Karges Furniture
Located in Dayton, OH
The exterior finish features an antiqued, distressed cream lacquer beautifully framed by soft blue and teal hand-painted borders, scrolling corner accents, and delicate central flora...
Hardwood, Paint
$6,000Sale Price|20% Off
Louis XV Period 1780’s Commode, Original Painted Finish
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Louis XV period 1780’s commode, original painted finish. Charming French Louis XV period painted three drawer commode from the third quarter of the 18th century. This chest of dra...
Wood
Vintage Italian Hand Painted Ligerie Chest
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This exquisite vintage Italian lingerie chest is a beautiful example of Venetian-style artisanal craftsmanship. Adorned with delicate, hand-painted floral motifs and winding ribbons,...
Metal
Pair of Large Early 19th Century Chinoiserie Decorated Lacquer Chests from Paris
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Never in the 35+ years that we’ve been in business have we ever had anything like these rare matched chests. From Paris, this incredible pair of early 19th Century (C.1800) are in ex...
Brass
Antique French Provincial Commodes, Handcrafted Pine, Circa 1830, Pair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique French pair of Provencal chests of drawers or commodes made of hand crafted Pinewood with bowed fronts and an ecru color aged patina, in good condition.
Metal
$875Sale Price|35% Off
French 1960s Hand Painted 2 Drawer Bow Fronted Chest on Carved Cabroile Legs
Located in Santa Monica, CA
This is an unique example of decorative are work on furniture in the 1960s. This is a 2 drawer bow fronted small chest of drawers in the Louis XVI style with the cabroile shaped fron...
Pine
Pair of Vintage Hand Painted French Bombe Bedside / Side End Table Size Chests
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this very fine pair of hand painted French Bombe chests ideally suited to be used as bedside tables in a bedroom context or side end tables in a li...
Oak
19th Century French Black Lacquered Louis Philippe Commode
Located in Dallas, TX
Beautiful 19th century French black lacquered Louis Philippe commode. Featuring a lovely hand painted design including flowers and birds. So pretty!
Wood
French Serpentine Three Drawer Commode with Faux Marble Top c 1760
Located in Milford, NH
A nice example of a French walnut three drawer commode in serpentine form, with conforming faux marble painted top and decorative hardware, carved paneled corners, a nicely shaped ca...
Metal
French Transitional Chinoiserie Commode with Breccia Marble Top
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
This antique French Louis XV Style – Transitional commode features hand-painted chinoiserie lacquer panels depicting figural scenes in a romanticized Eastern landscape, set within a ...
Bronze
French Louis XV Style Bombe Chinoiserie Lacquered Commode
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a very decorative French Louis XV style bombe chinoiserie commode lacquered overall. The painted top with gilt edge is over three long graduated drawers, raised on short cab...
Wood
$3,840Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century French with Brass Encroûtement Bombe Shaped Chinoiserie Commode
Located in Van Nuys, CA
This 19th-century French bombe-shaped Chinoiserie commode is a statement of opulence and masterful craftsmanship. The piece boasts a rich, regal presence, accentuated by its flowing ...
Wood
Pair French Ormolu Mounted Chinoiserie Red Lacquer Commodes, François Boucher
By François Boucher
Located in New York, NY
Pair of French Ormolu Mounted Chinoiserie Red Lacquer Commodes with marble tops, after François Boucher. Decorated with richly detailed Chinoiserie scenes after designs by François ...
Marble, Ormolu
Antique French Louis XVI Style Commode with an Ebonized Finish 200-Years Old
Located in Highwood, IL
Antique French Louis XVI Commode restored with an Ebonized Finish over 200-years-old. Our French Louis XVI Ebonized Commode was hand-sanded to the bare wood and given an old Ebonized...
Brass
Pair of French Napoleon III Figural Ormolu and Porcelain Mounted Side-Cabinets
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine pair of French Napoleon III figural ormolu and porcelain (probably Sevres) mounted tulipwood Meuble A Hauteur D'Appui. The rectangular shaped body fitted with a white mar...
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Claude-Charles Saunier (French, 1735-1807) Petite Louis XVI Chinoiserie Commode
Located in Dallas, TX
a petite period Louis XVI two-drawer commode black lacquer with gold Chinoserie decoration, gilt bronze mounts, elegant round / ring pulls, beautiful keyhole escutcheons with bows, a...
Marble
Trench Provincial Wedding or Marriage chest hand painted a bride a groom
Located in Valladolid, ES
Gorgeous wedding or marriage chest with plant decorations and a tender drawing of the couple riding a bicycle, dating from around the 1930s in France. The trunk is articulated as a...
Metal
$1,600Sale Price|20% Off
Sevres Ceramica chest Rococo style 19th century 1870 hand painted
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Sevres Ceramica chest Rococo style 19th century 1870 hand painted origin France Perfect unrestored condition natural wear.
Ceramic
Early 18th Century Louis XIV Period Commode
Located in Charleston, SC
Early 18th century Louis XIV Period commode with three large drawers, reeded side post, on carved feet. Charming old piece for any your decor. Here are few examples, surprising piece...
Bronze
Antique Marble Top Floral Marquetry Inlaid Mahogany Commode / Credenza
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Enrich your living space with this Early 19th Century Commode / Credenza, an exquisite piece designed in the French Louis XV style. This commode is not just a functional storage unit...
Marble, Brass
Early 20th Century Louis XV Style Chinoiserie Lacquer and Ormolu Commode
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An elegant early 20th century Louis XV Style Chinoiserie Commode designed in the mid 18th century style with marble topped ebonized lacquered and gild bronze mounts. Beautifully exec...
Marble, Ormolu
Pair Vintage French Chinoiserie Marble Top Chests / Dressers / Commodes
Located in New York, NY
Pair of petite vintage French chinoiserie bombe-shaped marble top commodes (dressers, chests of drawers) in the Louis XV/XVI style, with ebonized finishes with hand-carved polychrome...
Marble
French Victorian Chinoiserie Chest, Gilt & Lacquer, 6 Drawers, c. 1850
Located in Queens, NY
"French Victorian (19th Century) Chinoiserie 6 drawer chest/dresser featuring elaborately painted genre scenes and landscapes painted in gold, black, and green under a high-sheen lac...
Giltwood
18th Century Style French Louis XV Bombe Cerused Oak Chest of Drawers Nightstand
Located in Forney, TX
A visually striking vintage French Louis XV style painted whitewashed cerused oak petite bombé chest of drawers (bedside nightstand - small commode dresser - chair side cabinet - end...
Wood, Oak
19th Century Louis Philippe Style Fall Front Secretary Chest
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Beautiful craftsmanship Louis Philippe style secretary chest cabinet desk in a satin / burl wood with exterior front inlay musical instruments and flowers marquetry scene details. Th...
Marble, Brass
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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