Henredon Bachelor
Late 20th Century American Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Burl, Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Georgian Night Stands
Brass
Vintage 1970s American Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
Brass
Vintage 1980s American Modern Night Stands
Ash, Burl
20th Century American Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern End Tables
Faux Bamboo
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
Walnut
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Walnut
20th Century American Hollywood Regency Dressers
Brass
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Brass
People Also Browsed
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
Laminate, Walnut
2010s American Regency Beds and Bed Frames
Mahogany
Antique Early 1800s English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Other
Antique Early 19th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Brass
Late 20th Century American Georgian Beds and Bed Frames
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Hepplewhite Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century American Chippendale Night Stands
Brass
Antique 19th Century British Georgian Wardrobes and Armoires
Mahogany
Vintage 1940s American Georgian Dressers
Brass
Vintage 1920s English Wardrobes and Armoires
Oak, Mahogany
Late 20th Century American Georgian Night Stands
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Regency Beds and Bed Frames
Wood
Mid-20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Vintage 1960s American French Provincial Night Stands
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Steel
Recent Sales
Vintage 1960s Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Silver, Nickel
Vintage 1980s North American Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century American Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Wood
Vintage 1970s American Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Georgian Night Stands
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Walnut
Mid-20th Century North American Anglo-Japanese Commodes and Chests of Dr...
Brass
Late 20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Late 20th Century American Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1970s American Hollywood Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1980s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Burl, Ash
Vintage 1980s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ash, Burl
1990s American Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Vintage 1950s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1960s American Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Vintage 1960s American Modern Night Stands
Lacquer
Late 20th Century American Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Late 20th Century American Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Late 20th Century American Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1980s American Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ash, Olive, Burl
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Mid-20th Century American Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1970s American Chinoiserie Cabinets
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
Brass
Vintage 1960s American Hollywood Regency Night Stands
Walnut
Late 20th Century American Georgian Night Stands
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Walnut
Vintage 1970s Georgian Dressers
Brass
Vintage 1970s American Hollywood Regency Night Stands
Brass
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Brass
20th Century American Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
Faux Bamboo
Vintage 1980s American Organic Modern Dressers
Ash, Ebony, Macassar, Burl
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Henredon Bachelor For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Henredon Bachelor?
Finding the Right commodes-chests-of-drawers for You
Is it 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 a 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.
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.