Semainier Antique
1920s French Louis XVI Semainier Antique
Carrara Marble, Brass
19th Century Semainier Antique
Pine
19th Century Semainier Antique
Walnut
1910s French Louis XVI Semainier Antique
Carrara Marble, Brass
19th Century French Empire Semainier Antique
Marble, Brass
1820s French Empire Semainier Antique
Mahogany
Early 19th Century French Empire Semainier Antique
Mahogany
1870s French Napoleon III Semainier Antique
Mahogany
Late 19th Century French Semainier Antique
Brass
19th Century Semainier Antique
Walnut
19th Century French Semainier Antique
Stone, Marble, Metal, Brass
Late 18th Century French Semainier Antique
Stone, Marble, Metal, Brass
19th Century French Semainier Antique
Marble, Metal, Brass
19th Century Danish Biedermeier Semainier Antique
Metal, Brass
19th Century French Semainier Antique
Metal
1880s French Empire Semainier Antique
Bronze
18th Century French Louis XVI Semainier Antique
Wood
19th Century French Semainier Antique
Mahogany, Satinwood
18th Century Italian Rococo Semainier Antique
Wood, Giltwood
Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Semainier Antique
Brass
1880s French Louis XV Semainier Antique
Breccia Marble, Brass
Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Semainier Antique
Rosewood
Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Semainier Antique
Marble, Bronze
1920s French Art Deco Semainier Antique
Brass
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Semainier Antique
Marble
1880s French Louis XVI Semainier Antique
Marble
Early 1900s French Louis XV Semainier Antique
Marble, Bronze
Early 19th Century French Régence Semainier Antique
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
1920s Italian Semainier Antique
Walnut
1810s French Empire Semainier Antique
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Semainier Antique
Oak
Mid-19th Century Danish Biedermeier Semainier Antique
Mahogany
19th Century French Empire Semainier Antique
Marble
Early 19th Century English Regency Semainier Antique
Brass
1880s French Louis XV Semainier Antique
Marble, Ormolu
18th Century French Semainier Antique
Canvas, Paint, Wood
19th Century French Empire Semainier Antique
Bronze
17th Century German Baroque Semainier Antique
Metal
1840s Swedish Gustavian Semainier Antique
Pine
17th Century European Semainier Antique
Wood, Paint
18th Century and Earlier Semainier Antique
Marble, Ormolu
18th Century and Earlier French Semainier Antique
19th Century French Louis XVI Semainier Antique
Kingwood
19th Century French Semainier Antique
Marble
18th Century Semainier Antique
Mid-18th Century Italian Rococo Semainier Antique
19th Century French Louis XV Semainier Antique
Marble, Bronze
19th Century French Louis XVI Semainier Antique
Wood
1820s European Semainier Antique
19th Century French Louis XVI Semainier Antique
Marble
19th Century Danish Biedermeier Semainier Antique
Mahogany
1820s French Empire Semainier Antique
Beech
Late 18th Century French Louis XV Semainier Antique
Marble, Brass
1910s Semainier Antique
Walnut
Mid-19th Century Danish Biedermeier Semainier Antique
Mahogany
1920s French Louis XV Semainier Antique
Mahogany
Late 19th Century French Semainier Antique
Marble, Brass
Late 19th Century Directoire Semainier Antique
Late 19th Century French Semainier Antique
Marble, Brass
Early 19th Century French Directoire Semainier Antique
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Semainier Antique For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Semainier Antique?
Finding the Right Commodes-chests-of-drawers for You
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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