Georgian Walnut Chest on chest with Secretaire, circa 1760
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A fine quality and rare Georgian period Walnut Tallboy with a secretaire drawer, having wonderful fluted canted corners, having the original brass handles to the drawer fronts and si...
Walnut
Unavailable
H 64.97 in W 42.13 in D 22.05 in
Antique Georgian Burr Walnut Tallboy Chest on Stand of Drawers
Located in Wisbech, Walton Wisbech
Antique Georgian and later burr walnut tallboy chest on stand of drawers.
Walnut
Unavailable
H 75.6 in W 42.33 in D 23.82 in
Antique Georgian Burr Walnut Tallboy Chest on Chest of Drawers Reproduction
Located in Wisbech, Walton Wisbech
Antique top quality reproduction Georgian burr walnut tallboy chest on chest of drawers.
Walnut
An Irish 18th Century Walnut Tallboy.
Located in Dublin, IE
An Irish 18th Century Walnut Tallboy. Ex Collection Desmond Fitzgerald, The Knight of Glin.
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
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
Georgian 18th Century Walnut Tallboy
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
This walnut tallboy, sometimes known as a chest on chest, is an absolutely wonderful example of its type, boasting lovely colour and patina to the well figured walnut veneers.
Walnut
Sold
H 73.82 in W 45.08 in D 20.28 in
Antique Grand Chest of Drawers, English, Walnut, Tallboy, Georgian, circa 1800
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique grand chest on chest of drawers. An English, walnut and mahogany tallboy, dating to the Georgian period, circa 1800.
Walnut
Antique Burr Walnut Tallboy Chest of Drawers
Located in London, GB
A superb antique tallboy chest of drawers in burr walnut. This was made in England, it dates from the 1900-1920 period. It is of extremely high quality and offers lots of storage ...
Walnut
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H 67.33 in W 41.34 in D 22.05 in
Antique 18th Century Burr Walnut Tallboy – Chest-on-Chest of Drawers
Located in Wisbech, England
Antique 18th Century Burr Walnut Tallboy Chest on Chest of Drawers – Fine Quality A fine-quality 18th-century tallboy featuring attractive burr walnut veneers over an oak structure....
Wood, Oak, Walnut
18th Century Walnut Chest on Chest
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
18th Century English, beautiful and good quality Georgian walnut chest on chest tallboy. Of small proportions this attractive piece not only offers great storage but looks amazing.
Brass
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
English Georgian Walnut Chest On Chest (Tallboy)
Located in Sheffield, MA
Georgian walnut chest-on-chest in two parts, the coved cornice above six small and four graduated drawers, the lower section with three graduated long drawers, double reeded molding ...
Brass
English 1920s Walnut Serpentine Tallboy
Located in Salisbury, Wiltshire
Walnut serpentine tallboy This walnut serpentine tallboy was made, circa 1920. It is constructed in 2 parts that allows ease of movement into and around your home. The top section...
Walnut
18th Century Walnut Chest on Chest Tallboy
Located in Salisbury, Wiltshire
18th century walnut chest on chest tallboy. This 18th century. Walnut chest on chest has the lovely feature of a concave sunburst in the bottom drawer. Made in two sections that ma...
Walnut
Sold
H 51 in W 38 in D 20 in
Antique Walnut Chest on Stand Tallboy Chest of Drawers 19th Century, circa 1820
Located in Longdon, Tewkesbury
Antique walnut chest on stand tallboy chest of drawers 19th century, circa 1820 Magnificent antique 19th century Georgian Walnut chest on stand tallboy early 19th century England ...
Walnut
Sold
H 51 in W 38 in D 20 in
Antique Walnut Chest on Stand Tallboy Chest of Drawers, 19th Century, circa 1820
Located in Longdon, Tewkesbury
Antique walnut chest on stand tallboy chest of drawers, 19th century, circa 1820 Magnificent antique 19th century Georgian Walnut chest on stand tallboy early 19th century England...
Walnut
18th Century Veneered Walnut Tallboy
Located in Salisbury Wiltshire, GB
A George II veneered walnut tallboy having fluted canted corners to the upper section, the base having the unusual feature of standing on its original ogee feet.
Brass
American Chippendale Oxbow Slant Front Desk, Mahogany, Circa 1780
Located in Kenilworth, IL
American Chippendale slant front desk on four graduated drawers, resting on ogee bracket feet. The oxbow drawers are blocked at the corners which continues into the ogee bracket feet...
Brass
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
A fine pair of George 11 burled walnut chests
Located in Dallas, TX
A fine pair of 18th century English burled walnut George 11 period chests
Walnut
A George II Walnut Chest on Chest
Located in London, GB
England, circa 1740. A fine George II walnut chest on chest, with original brass escutcheons and handles, the top with concave moulded cornice above three short and three long gradu...
Walnut
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
Georgian Walnut & Oak Chest on Chest
Located in Woodbury, CT
Georgian walnut and oak chest on chest. Upper section consists of three over three graduated drawers, reeded chamfered corners and deep crown moulding. Bottom section stands on bra...
Oak, Walnut, Ebony, Satinwood
A Walnut Chest on Chest
Located in London, GB
A fine George II walnut chest on chest, with original brass escutcheons and handles, the top with concave moulded cornice.
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.