Petite Black Commode
Antique 19th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Granite, Metal, Brass
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Antique Mid-17th Century English Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique 1860s Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Antique 18th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 20th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass, Bronze
Antique 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 20th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique Mid-19th Century American Folk Art Cabinets
Metal
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Gold Leaf, Silver Leaf
Antique Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Antique 19th Century Dutch Rustic Figurative Sculptures
Wood
Antique 19th Century Chinese Qing Bottles
Ceramic
Antique 19th Century English Chinoiserie Cabinets
Wood
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Night Stands
Belgian Black Marble
Mid-20th Century Indian Prints
Faux Bamboo, Paper
Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Paintings
Canvas, Giltwood
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
People Also Browsed
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Neoclassical Night Stands
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Flush Mount
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Bergere Chairs
Linen
2010s Chandeliers and Pendants
Metal
Antique Early 19th Century English Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Dr...
Wood
Early 20th Century English Art Nouveau Pitchers
Copper
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Organic Modern Center Tables
Travertine
Antique 1820s German Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Early 20th Century Prints
Paper
Antique Late 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Federal Night Stands
Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century French Restauration Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Night Stands
Marble, Brass
20th Century Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Burl
Recent Sales
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Antique Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
20th Century Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique Mid-18th Century French French Provincial Commodes and Chests of...
Walnut
Antique 18th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of...
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 1810s German Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Gold
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Mid-20th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 1860s French Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 19th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Stone, Granite, Metal, Brass
Early 20th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Late 17th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Side Tables
Marble, Brass
Vintage 1950s Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Dr...
Teak, Glass
20th Century Burmese British Colonial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
Antique Early 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Night Stands
Marble
Vintage 1950s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1930s French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Vermeil, Silver
20th Century French Buffets
Mahogany
Early 20th Century French Planters, Cachepots and Jardinières
Majolica
Early 20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Early 1900s French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique Mid-19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Walnut
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass, Bronze
Mid-20th Century American Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 1760s English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Thai Sculptures and Carvings
Bronze
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Models and Miniatures
Marble
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Night Stands
Bronze
Early 20th Century English Convex Mirrors
Silver Leaf
Antique 19th Century Chinese Qing Sculptures and Carvings
Terracotta
Antique 17th Century Chinese Ming Sculptures and Carvings
Terracotta
20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Lacquer
Antique Early 1900s French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique Early 19th Century French Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Vintage 1940s French Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Lacquer
Vintage 1960s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Early 20th Century Italian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Satinwood, Abalone
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Belgian Black Marble
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 19th Century Italian Chinoiserie Side Tables
Wood
Vintage 1960s British Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rosewood, Teak
Vintage 1930s Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Dry Bars
Macassar, Oak
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Louis XIV Wall Mirrors
Petite Black Commode For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Petite Black Commode?
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.
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