Antique George III Serpentine Chest Drawers, circa 1775
Located in London, GB
This is beautifully crafted antique George III mahogany serpentine fronted chest of drawers, circa 1775 in date.
Antique George III Serpentine Chest Drawers, circa 1775
Located in London, GB
This is beautifully crafted antique George III mahogany serpentine fronted chest of drawers, circa 1775 in date.
Antique George III Serpentine Flame Mahogany Chest Drawers, 18th Century
Located in London, GB
This is beautifully crafted antique George III flame mahogany serpentine fronted chest of drawers, circa 1780 in date.
Brass
Sold|$11,500
Serpentine Front Three Drawer Chest
Located in Dallas, TX
A serpentine front three drawer chest with multiple inlays on sides, front and top, including Maltese crosses in cartouches on top.
Fruitwood, Mahogany
Sold|$12,500
Serpentine Front Mirrored Chest of Drawers
By Nancy Corzine
Located in Stockton, NJ
A stunning and large-scale serpentine front fully mirrored chest of drawers with silver plate drawer pulls.
Mirror
Antique Serpentine Fronted Mahogany Chest of Drawers
Located in Benington, Herts
A quality serpentine fronted mahogany chest fo drawers with brushing slide on bracket feet.
Mahogany
Serpentine Fronted Kingwood Tall Chest of Drawers
Located in Cheshire, GB
19th century French kingwood and tulip wood banded tall chest of draws in the Louis XVI taste, the serpentine quarter veered top over an arrangement of seven drawers all fitted with ...
Kingwood
Sold|$6,800
French Regence Style Marble Top Commode
Located in Bradenton, FL
Very stylish 19th century French Regence style marble top Commode. Serpentine-front chest with molded Italian marble top.
Wood
French 18th Century Chest of Drawers with Serpentine Front
Located in London, GB
This is a lovely French 18th century serpentine chest of drawers veneered in beautifully figured walnut. Sitting on bun feet, it has an elegant shape and is finished with lovely shel...
Walnut
Mahogany Serpentine bow fronted 6 Drawer tallboy chest of Drawers
Located in Bishop's Stortford, GB
Antique Mahogany Serpentine bow fronted 6 Drawer tallboy chest of Drawers, ealry 1900's.
Brass
Sold|$6,840
Serpentine Fronted Scandinavian Commode
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
A wonderful late 18th century serpentine fronted Scandinavian commode in later paint.
John Wanamaker Georgian Serpentine Front Mahogany Chest of Drawers, Refinished
By John Wanamaker
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Georgian style serpentine front four-drawer chest of drawers or commode By John Wanamaker USA, 1947 Flame mahogany, with satinwood banding and original brass hard...
Brass
Baker Furniture Georgian Inlaid Flame Mahogany Serpentine Front Dresser Chest
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Georgian or Chippendale style serpentine front ten-drawer dresser or chest of drawers By Baker Furniture, "Historic Charleston" Collection USA, Circa 1980s Book-matched...
Brass
Sold|$28,500
Venetian Serpentine front commode
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large serpentine front three drawer commode from the region of Venice, Italy. With gilded bronze hardware, the commode is inlaid with olive, and walnut woods.
Sold|$5,021
Italian Serpentine Front Commode
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Good early 19th C Italian serpentine front walnut commode. 1820. Reference: 7656 Dimensions 49.5 inches (126 cms) Wide 21.5 inches (55 cms) Deep 39 inches (99 cms) High
Walnut
Sold|$2,177
Dutch Serpentine Front Commode
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
20th C Dutch painted pine serpentine front four drawer commode. 1950. Reference: 7557 Dimensions 42.5 inches (108 cms) wide 21.5 inches (55 cms) deep 34.5 inches (88 cms) high.
Pine
Louis Philippe Chest of Drawers in Mahogany with Serpentine Front
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A fine commode or chest with four drawers in mahogany with book-matched mahogany serpentine-front.
Mahogany
Sold|$4,694
Danish Serpentine Front Commode
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
18th century Danish serpentine front commode. Splits into two pieces. Original brass handles and escutcheons, 1780. Dimensions 47 inches (119 cms) wide 25 inches (64 cms) deep ...
Oak
Italian Fruitwood Late 18th Century Four-Drawer Chest with Serpentine Front
Located in Atlanta, GA
A late 18th century Italian fruitwood commode with serpentine front. This Italian chest of drawers from circa 1790-1810 features a rectangular top, curved in the front, nicely follow...
Fruitwood
18th Century Italian Bleached Walnut Serpentine Front Commode / Chest of Drawers
Located in Carmine, TX
The front presents three drawers, all with serpentine fronts and beautiful inlay and each drawer has large, hand-made dovetail joints.
Walnut
1760s Rococo Period Painted Swedish Chest of Drawers with Serpentine Front
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Rococo period painted chest from circa 1760 with three drawers, ormolu hardware, light gray / cream painted finish, serpentine front and carved skirt.
Ormolu
18th C. Austrian Baroque Serpentine Front Commode Or Chest Of Drawers
Located in Winter Park, FL
A commode made of veneer of walnut with pine as a secondary wood with a serpentine front, three dovetails drawer from the Austria.
French Louis XV Style Serpentine Front Commode or Chest of drawers
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th century French Louis XV style serpentine front commode, or chest of drawers, from Paris.
Oak, Walnut
French Louis XV Style Serpentine Front Three-Drawer Chest, circa 1780
Located in Atlanta, GA
This French Louis XV style serpentine front three-drawer commode from the late 18th century features a shaped top with rounded edge and canted corners over three hand-cut dovetailed ...
Bronze
Pair of 1920's Serpentine fronted mahogany Jewellers chest of drawers
Located in Malton, GB
The pair are made from mahogany and are serpentine fronted. Extremely high quality and decorative.
Mahogany
Antique Danish 18th Century Baroque Chest of Drawers with Serpentine Front
Located in Kastrup, DK
Danish baroque period chest of drawers with clean, curved lines. Scalloped top above 3 serpentine drawers. Later professional painted blue with wonderful and distressed, authentic ...
Oak
Sold|$14,700
Italian Serpentine-Front Pine Commode
Located in Chireno, TX
Italian serpentine-front pine commode, robust, large-scale three-drawer commode constructed in stripped pine. Hand carved curvaceous serpentine-front and drawers. Construction includ...
Steel, Iron
Sold|$4,500
Queen Anne Serpentine Front Commode
Located in High Point, NC
18th Century fine example of a Queen Anne commode with a serpentine front, two drawers over two drawers. Resting on shell carved cabriole legs with pad feet.
Walnut
Sold|$4,463
English Painted Serpentine Front Commode
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Late 19th C English painted oak serpentine front commode with brushing slide. 1890. Dimensions 36 inches (91 cms) wide 19.5 inches (50 cms) deep 32 inches (81 cms) High.
Oak
Vintage Italian Serpentine Bombe Chest Bow Front Dresser Pine Commode Italy
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage bombe chest or commode, circa last quarter 20th Century. Made of pine featuring ornate French and Italian styling with two petite glove drawers over two drawers supported by ...
Pine
Baker Furniture Georgian Mahogany Serpentine Front Dresser or Chest of Drawers
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
A beautiful Georgian or Regency style mahogany dresser or chest of drawers By Baker Furniture USA, Circa 1960s Beautiful book-matched mahogany, with original brass hardware. Meas...
Brass
Fiorini Vintage Italian Serpentine Bombe Chest Bow Front Walnut Commode, Italy
Located in Dayton, OH
"Vintage 1987 Fiorini Furniture bombe chest or commode. Made of walnut featuring ornate French and Italian styling with two petite glove drawers over two drawers supported by cabriol...
Walnut
Pair of English Georgian Style Mahogany Chests with Serpentine Front, circa 1900
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of English Georgian style Mahogany chests with Serpentine front and ogee feet, circa 1900.
Mahogany
Nice Flamed Hardwood Bevan Funnell Serpentine Fronted Tall Boy Chest of Drawers
By Bevan Funnell Ltd.
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this very nice handmade in England by Bevan Funnell flamed mahogany serpentine fronted tall boy chest of drawers A good looking well made chest,...
Hardwood
Grey and White Baroque Chest of Drawers with Serpentine Front, 18th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Baroque chest of drawers with a curved front and three drawers. The grey frame with colour-contrasting panels is new and has been decoratively patinated.
Wood
Sold|$2,900
Serpentine Front Dresser by Edmund Spence
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional matte black lacquered serpentine front 4 drawer chest of drawers. This item is located at our Chelsea location at 325 1/2 West 16th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues.
Sold|$7,200
18th Century French Serpentine Front Commode
Located in Charleston, SC
A handsome 18th century Serpentine front commode in trace of time worn paint with beautifully carved serpentine drawers resting on short cabriole feet. Alsace, France, circa 1770. ...
Oak, Paint
19th Century French Serpentine Fronted Commode
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
19th Century French parquetry inlaid commode with serpentine front. The commode boasts the original marble top in Carrara marble and canted corners. Circa 1870.
Carrara Marble
Sold|$4,830
18th Century Dutch Serpentine Front Commode
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
18th C Dutch painted pine serpentine front 4 drawer commode. 1780 Reference: 7344 Dimensions 37 inches (94 cms) Wide 22.5 inches (57 cms) Deep 31.5 inches (80 cms) High.
Pine
Sold|$4,898
18th Century Dutch Serpentine Front Commode
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Stunning 18th C Dutch 4 drawer commode with a serpentine front. 1790. Reference: 7533 Dimensions 36 inches (91 cms) wide 20.5 inches (52 cms) deep 31.5 inches (80 cms) high.
Oak
18th Century French Serpentine Fronted Commode
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
An excellent example of a maple and walnut, 18th Century serpentine fronted commode with a later marble top. Having three long drawers with burr maple panels and walnut crossbanding ...
Marble
Italian Serpentine Front Rococo Style Commode
Located in Nashville, TN
Fruitwood or a very faded walnut . A classically simple cognac colored Italian commode with serpentine front / sides in late rococo taste. The bottom skirt on all three sides centere...
Brass
Sold|$1,500
Louis XV Style Serpentine Front Commode
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 20th century French Louis XV style commode with serpentine front and curved sides. Made of solid cherry with pegged construction and waxed patina. Two dovetailed drawers with origi...
Bronze
Sold|$5,800
Louis XV Walnut Serpentine Front Commode
Located in Hixson, TN
This is a spectacular French walnut commode with three drawers and a serpentine front. This commode has a wonderful patina and look. There are ormolu mounts but more of the Louis XVI...
Ormolu
Italian Baroque Marquetry Serpentine Front Commode
Located in Bradenton, FL
A fine 3-drawer Italian Baroque commode in walnut with inlaid fruitwood Marquetry decoration, the serpentine drawers retaining their original brass drawer pulls and escutcheons. The ...
Walnut
German Baroque Marquetry Serpentine Front Commode
Located in Bradenton, FL
A fine 3-drawer German Baroque commode in walnut with inlaid fruitwood Marquetry decoration, the serpentine drawers retaining their original locks and brass drawer pulls and escutche...
Walnut
Antique Large Black Painted Oak Chest of 4 Drawers With Serpentine Front, Denmark
Located in Round Top, TX
This antique rococo chest of drawers from Denmark features a serpentine front, brass hardware pulls and an exceptional (newer) matte black painted finish.
Wood, Oak, Paint
Blue Painted Chest of Three Drawers with Serpentine Front, Sweden circa 1860-80
Located in Round Top, TX
The soft blue painted finish is captivating in this attractive chest with three serpentine front drawers raised on curved cabriolet feet.
Wood, Paint
Sold|$6,400
18th century French Serpentine Front Commode
Located in Charleston, SC
Elegant 18th century French commode with wonderful shape and patina of origin
18th Century Painted Serpentine-Blocked Front Commode
Located in Chireno, TX
18th century painted serpentine-blocked front commode in remnants of early or original finish. Three wide hand-carved serpentine-blocked front drawers. Rounded turned wooden knob-pul...
Iron
18th Century Italian Walnut Serpentine Front Commode
Located in Bradenton, FL
A magnificent serpentine front three drawer commode of exceptional quality and condition. The commode has three drawers with what appears to be original brass keyhole escutcheons and...
Walnut
Late 18th Century Austrian Serpentine Fronted Commode
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Late 18th century Austrian serpentine fronted commode on original shaped bracket feet and retaining a charming hint of the original painted decoration.
18th Century Serpentine-Front Danish Pine Commode
Located in Chireno, TX
18th century serpentine-front Danish pine commode with four drawers. Mid-18th century serpentine-front commode in two parts, supported by carved paw-feet in front and simple block fe...
Steel, Iron
Four Drawer Bleached Mahogany Serpentine Front Commode
By Empire Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
Bleached and toned mahogany four drawer commode by the fine furniture maker, Empire Furniture Company of Rockford, Illinois. Serpentine front is set off by canted front legs and brus...
Brass
Sold|$10,000
18th Century Louis XV Serpentine Front Commode
Located in Winter Park, FL
An exceptional late 18th century Louis XV serpentine front commode from Provence. Made of solid walnut with fine hand carvings. Thick pierced apron with beautiful carved flower baske...
Walnut
Sold|$6,652
Danish Rococo Serpentine Chest of Drawers
Located in Kastrup, DK
Danish curvy rococo painted chest of three drawers. Elegant serpentine chest, with its front and sides concave at the ends and convex in the center.
Oak
Sold|$5,500
Keno Brothers Serpentine Chest of Drawers
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
A classic serpentine front maple veneer chest featuring four vertical drawers with spacious interiors, with decorative lock forms to front (decorative only, having no locking mechani...
Maple
Quality Early 20th Century Walnut Serpentine Chest on Chest
Located in Benington, Herts
A very good quality serpentine shaped front walnut chest on chest. English, circa 1920.
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.
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