A very fine George I walnut tallboy
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A very fine George I walnut tallboy, of typical rectangular form with a wide base containing three graduated long drawers and a narrower upper section with three further long drawers...
Walnut
18th Century George I Walnut Tallboy Chest-on-Stand, England
Located in Houston, TX
A superb early 18th-century George I walnut "tallboy" chest-on-stand, featuring exquisite oyster walnut veneers.
Walnut
$5,463Sale Price|20% Off
George I Walnut Tallboy Chest on Stand, Burr Elm Veneer, Antique, 1715
Located in Shipston-On-Stour, GB
A superb early Georgian tallboy or chest on stand with key, dating from early 1700s. The upper section has two short drawers over three long graduated drawers, all feather-banded and...
Walnut
George I Walnut Tallboy
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A George I walnut tallboy, of tall rectangular form, the upper section with a moulded cornice over two short and three long drawers, and the base with two short and two long drawers,...
Walnut
George I Walnut Tallboy Chest, England, Circa 1720, Original Brass
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A Wonderful Early 18th Century, George I Period, Walnut Chest On Chest, Or Tallboy, Of Attractive Untouched Colour And Surface Throughout, Having Three Short And Three Long Drawers T...
Walnut
Attractive George I Walnut and Feather Banded Tallboy
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
An attractive George I walnut and feather banded tallboy, the upper section with stop-fluted canted corners flanking three short and three long drawers, with a further hidden drawer ...
Rare Very Small Georgian Walnut Tallboy
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
An Extremely Attractive And Very Rare Early 18th Century, George I Period, Walnut Tallboy, Or Chest On Chest, Having Superbly Figured Veneers Throughout, The Top With Two Short And T...
Walnut
Antique 18th Century Walnut Chest on Chest / Tallboy
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A delightful George I period walnut chest on chest, or tallboy, of diminutive proportions having superbly figured drawer fronts retaining original brass wear raised on original sh...
Walnut
Small Georgian Walnut Tallboy
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A charming early 18th century George I period walnut tallboy, or chest on chest, of extremely rare small proportions having quarter veneered & cross banded top over two short & six l...
Walnut
George I Burr Walnut Tallboy
Located in London, GB
A good George I burr walnut tallboy, the upper part with canted corners above a brushing slide, the lower drawer with a inlaid sunburst.
George I Walnut Tallboy/chest on chest
Located in Wiltshire, GB
George I walnut tallboy of superb colour, patination and proportions with inlaid starburst to the lower drawer with a brushing slide.
Walnut
Unusual Early 18th Century George I Walnut Tallboy
Located in Bradford on Avon, GB
This unusual example is of rare small size and is most exceptional for the inclusion of a door and flanking pilasters to the upper section. The
Walnut
Early 18th Century George I Period Burr Walnut Secretaire Tallboy
Located in London, GB
A fine early 18th century George I Period burr walnut secretaire tallboy, the shaped cornice above three short and three long drawers with herringbone inlay, crossbanding and etched ...
Brass
Early 18th Century George I Period Walnut Chest on Chest Tallboy
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Early 18th century walnut chest on chest. This one is very good value and still has all the good stuff like graduated drawers, brushing slide, string banding and bookmatched veneers....
An Antique Georgian Walnut Tallboy
Located in London, GB
An usually slim George I period walnut veneered tallboy; the crossgrain veneered cavetto cornice above an arrangement of graduated drawers which are cockbeaded, inlaid with feather b...
Walnut
Chest on Chest Walnut
Located in Bradford on Avon, GB
Unusual Early 18th Century George I Walnut Tallboy This unusual example is of rare small size and is most exceptional for the inclusion of a door and flanking pilasters to the upper ...
$23,218
H 88.59 in W 66.93 in D 23.23 in
Antique George III Breakfront Bookcase in Mahogany with Broken Pediment Cornice
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
A wonderful Georgian mahogany breakfront bookcase of small proportions with astragal glazed doors and broken architectural pediment cornice, 18th century. The upper part with origina...
Mahogany
$3,495
H 78 in W 45.5 in D 23 in
Antique 18th Century Georgian George III Mahogany Tallboy Chest on Chest, 1760
Located in Portland, OR
A fine quality George III flame mahogany chest on chest/tallboy, circa 1760. This elegant Georgian mahogany chest on chest is of the finest quality and is made from solid Cuban flame...
Mahogany
18th Century George III Mahogany Chest on Chest
Located in Essex, MA
Beautiful Mahogany George III Chest on Chest. Carved Adam Frieze with exotic wood chamfered corners. Original backboards and dovetailed drawers. Quite lovely patina and color. Early ...
Mahogany
$95,950 / set
H 12 in W 18 in D 18 in
Chrysanthemum Tiffany Sterling Silver Flatware Set Service 255 pcs Fitted Chest
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Big Bend, WI
Chrysanthemum (c1880) originally called Indian Chrysanthemum .Tiffany's luxurious Chrysanthemum silver was designed in 1880 by Charles Grosjean. With its flowing curves, swirling ve...
Sterling Silver
George III Mahogany Breakfront Bureau Bookcase
Located in Huntington, NY
This exceptional George III Mahogany Breakfront Bureau Bookcase with Glazed Doors, has wonderful flame & crotch grain Mahogany. Comprised of a large central cabinet, flanked by 2 sma...
Brass
Fabergé Silver Flatware Service
By Fabergé
Located in New Orleans, LA
This exceptional 77-piece complete service by Fabergé is a rare treasure from the world-renowned firm. Enclosed in its original oak chest, the exquisite service remains complete and ...
Silver
$28,000 / set
H 36 in W 47.5 in D 23.5 in
Pair of George III Satinwood Inlaid Demilune Console Cabinets
Located in Greenwich, CT
Fine pair of George III mahogany demilune commodes with satinwood banded and fan inlaid tops over half round case having three drawers and four doors, each with quarter fan inlaid co...
Mahogany, Satinwood
$22,400Sale Price|30% Off
H 86 in W 46 in D 23 in
18th Century English Mahogany Chippendale Style Chest on Chest
Located in San Francisco, CA
Thrilled to find this piece! An exceptional 18th century English Chippendale style mahogany chest on stand. Having flame mahogany veneer drawer fronts over solid oak, the body of so...
Brass
King George I Ambassadorial Secrétaire-Cabinet
Located in New Orleans, LA
This highly important secrétaire-cabinet was crafted for and specially ordered by King George I for the British Ambassador to Russia. From its craftsmanship and materials to its exce...
Brass
$340,230
H 30.32 in W 245.28 in D 59.85 in
Rare Gillows Lancaster 1789-1795 George III American Walnut Dining Table
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this sublime fully restored circa 1789-95 Gillows Lancaster George III dining table in American Walnut A very rare and highly collectable table,...
Walnut
$125,000
H 214 in W 124.5 in D 22 in
An Extraordinary George III Triple Breakfront Mahogany Glazed Cabinet
Located in Greenwich, CT
An extraordinary 18th century cabinet with triple breakfront glazed windows above a lower range of stepped doors, surmounted by an ogee molded architrave with three triangle pediment...
Mahogany
George II Walnut Games Table, Irish
Located in El Monte, CA
This Irish George II/III carved walnut concertina action fold over games table is a fine example of Irish furniture from the mid-18th century. Made of solid walnut with a carved top ...
Walnut
$129,717
H 10.63 in W 18.9 in D 9.45 in
Incredible Pair of George III Period Sterling Silver Wine Coolers, London, 1804
By Joseph Preedy
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1804 by Joseph Preedy, this remarkable pair of Antique Sterling Silver Wine Coolers are richly decorated, featuring a sculptural Bacchanalian frieze depicting...
Sterling Silver
18th Century George III Mahogany Chest on Chest
Located in Long Island City, NY
The dentiled cornice above a rinceau scroll frieze and a series of two short and four long drawers. On a base with two long drawers, floral molding and acanthus-carved ogee feet. Wit...
Brass
$27,316
H 29.14 in W 53.94 in D 30.32 in
Antique Howard & Sons Aesthetic Movement Sofa Claw & Ball Feet Chinoiserie Fabic
By Howard & Sons Ltd, Howard Chairs Ltd., Howard and Sons
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning exceptionally rare and original Howard & Son's circa 1880 two seat sofa with duvet feather padded arms and seat cushions, with Aesthe...
Upholstery, Hardwood
$61,461 / set
H 37.5 in W 22.5 in D 25 in
Rare 19th Century Period Set of 18 Mahogany Dining Chairs in the Georgian Style
By George Hepplewhite
Located in London, GB
A Set of Eighteen George III Style Dining Chairs After the design by George Hepplewhite Carved from mahogany, the set comprised of sixteen side chairs and two carvers, having taperi...
Mahogany
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.