Sold|$2,900
Vintage Red Chinoiserie Bachelors Chest
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Vintage Red Chinoiserie Bachelors Chest with serpentine front and black gold embossed leather top Serpentine front with a vibrant red background and decorated with painted scenes of ...
Leather, Paint
Venetian Painted Chest, Bedside Stand or Commode, Italian with Serpentine Front
Located in Stamford, CT
Venetian painted chest, bedside stand or commode. Italian with a serpentine front and sides.
Wood
Sold|$1,800
George 111 Mahogany Bachelors Chest
Located in East Aurora, NY
Georgian Mahogany serpentine front bachelors chest resting on tall ogee bracket feet 1790-1800.
Wood
Sold|$4,200
Louis XV Style French Provincial Chest
Located in Bradenton, FL
Early 19th century Louis XV chest. Serpentine front with two smaller top drawers and two larger bottom drawers, on sturdy cabriole legs.
Wood
Sold|$5,646
Baroque Chest of Drawers, 18th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Baroque chest of drawers on tapered feet with three drawers and a slightly serpentine front.
Wood
Sold|$295,000
Thomas Chippendale Chest of Drawers
Located in New Orleans, LA
This incredibly rare serpentine-front antique chest of drawers was almost certainly crafted by the iconic Thomas Chippendale, and is counted as one of the few examples in existence m...
Mahogany
Sold|$8,800
George III Mahogany Chest of Drawers
Located in Buchanan, MI
Very nice Geo III serpentine front mahogany chest of drawers. Four graduated drawers raised on french feet with shaped apron.
Mahogany
Sold|$3,850
Pair of English Chests of Drawers
Located in Stamford, CT
Pair of English serpentine front custom quality mahogany chests of drawers.
Mahogany
Antique Georgian Style Chest of Drawers
Located in London, GB
It is very well made, with beautiful flame wood grain patterns and high quality brass handles. The top and drawer fronts are cross banded, there is a pull out brushing slide at the t...
Wood
18th Century Swedish Baroque Chest of Drawers
Located in Charleston, SC
An exquisite and richly carved serpentine fronted late Baroque Swedish chest with rare double serpentine moldings on the drawers and beautiful original brass hardwares, Sweden, circa...
Brass
Sold|$5,875
Early 19th Century Swedish Chest of Drawers
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Early 19th century Swedish serpentine fronted provincial chest of drawers in old paint.
18th Century Swedish Baroque Chest of Drawers
Located in Charleston, SC
An exquisite and richly carved serpentine fronted late Baroque Swedish chest with rare double serpentine moldings on the drawers on stands and beautiful original brass hardwares, in ...
Sold|$1,895
Burl Walnut Small Dressing Chest, circa 1920
Located in High Point, NC
Circa 1920 English serpentine front small chest made of burl walnut. The top is banded and has a beveled and scalloped edge and lifts to provide a nicely appointment compartment wit...
Walnut
Sold|$4,600
George III Period Mahogany Chest of Drawers
Located in Bradenton, FL
Impressive 18th century George III Chippendale string inlaid serpentine front mahogany chest of drawers. Chest features four long drawers with original brass handles embossed with l...
Mahogany
Serpentine Front 4 Drawers Swivel Mirror Mahogany Dresser High Chest Ball Claw
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Serpentine front 4 drawers swivel mirror mahogany dresser high chest ball claw No key included, top most lock is non-functional.
Mahogany
Small 19th Century Cabinet/Chest in Mahogany with Serpentine Front and Drawer
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A graceful chest in mahogany with crotch mahogany, with serpentine front offering one-drawer and one cabinet door, and resting on carved escargot feet, Denmark, circa 1845.
Mahogany
Mid-18th Century Danish Baroque Chest of Drawers
Located in Charleston, SC
An exquisite and richly carved serpentine fronted Baroque Danish oak chest with rare double serpentine moldings on the drawers and beautiful original brass hardwares.
Dresden Rococo-Style Chest of Drawers, circa 1880
Located in Greding, DE
Two-drawered chest of drawers with a slightly serpentine front.
Walnut
Antique English Burled Black Walnut Chest of Drawers
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English serpentine front burled black walnut chest of drawers on legs with original brass hardware circa 1880s
Brass
Sold|$918 / set
Pair of Antique Yew Wood Chest of Drawers
Located in London, GB
Pair of antique Georgian style serpentine fronted yew wood chests of drawers dating to around the 1950s period.
Yew
Antique Oak Baroque Tall Chest of Drawers, Denmark
Located in Round Top, TX
The eye-catching serpentine front of this classic chest of drawers compliments the rich, aged oak.
Wood
Antique Dutch Marquetry Chest of Drawers, 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a stunning antique Dutch serpentine fronted marquetry chest of four graduated drawers, Circa 1850 in date.
Ormolu
A Two-Drawer French Louis XV Provencal Walnut Chest
Located in New York, NY
A two-drawer French Louis XV Provencal walnut chest with serpentine front. The top and drawers having molded edges and shaped apron supported by cabriole legs and each drawer having ...
George III English Bachelor's Chest of Satinwood and Mahogany
Located in Dallas, TX
an ingenious and very useful small four-drawer English / Georgian satinwood and mahogany bachelor's chest with serpentine front and inlay around top and drawers, top drawer opens to ...
Mahogany, Satinwood
Large Antique Scrubbed Pine Chest of Four Drawers, Denmark
Located in Round Top, TX
The scalloped edge of the top is carried down through the drawer and apron resulting in a curvy serpentine front in this large chest of four drawers.
Wood
18th Century Dutch Marquetry Walnut Chest of Drawers
Located in London, GB
This is a stunning antique Dutch bombe' serpentine fronted marquetry chest of drawers, late 18th century in date.
Walnut
18th Century Dutch Marquetry Walnut Cabinet on Chest
Located in London, GB
The cabinet has a single glazed door and glazed sides so as to display your collectables perfectly and it stands on a bombe' serpentine fronted marquetry chest of drawers. The chest ...
Walnut
Early 18th Century Italian Period Baroque Three-Drawer Marquetry Chest
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Exquisite Early 18th Century Italian Period Baroque Three-Drawer Chest with Serpentine Front, Marquetry Décor on the Top and Drawers.
Wood
Baker Furniture Chippendale Carved Mahogany Chest of Drawers, Newly Refinished
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Georgian or Chippendale style serpentine front dresser or chest of drawers By Baker Furniture, "Historic Charleston Collection" USA, Late 20th Century Carved ...
Brass
18th Century, French, Walnut Commode/ Chest with Gilt Bronze Hardware
Located in Essex, MA
A large elegant late 18th century period Louis XV serpentine front three-drawer walnut commode/ chest with a lovely top in perfect condition with an outstanding patina to the entire ...
Wood, Walnut
French Style Chest or Commode with Red Tooled Faux Leather Surface
Located in Milford, NH
A beautiful French style three drawer chest serpentine front and red tooled faux leather surface, with contrasting black and gilt scrolled accents, shaped paneled sides, and heavy de...
Brass
circa 1940's Burr Walnut Serpentine Fronted Bedside Side Table Chest of Drawers
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning Burr Walnut, serpentine fronted, bedside / side end table sized drawers A very good looking well made and decorative piece, it can...
Walnut
Antique Pair of German Burr Walnut Bedside Chest, circa 1880
Located in London, GB
This is a superb pair of antique South German serpentine fronted small chests of drawers, circa 1880.
Antique Danish Black Oak Chest of Drawers, circa 1730-50, Black Finish
Located in Round Top, TX
The wonderful serpentine front of this oak chest of 4 drawers creates a strong allure.
Wood, Paint
Antique Louis Revival Burr Walnut & Ormolu Mounted Chest 19th Century
Located in London, GB
A stunning antique Louis Revival small serpentine fronted burr walnut two drawer chest, Circa 1890 in date.
Walnut
Henredon Georgian Inlaid Mahogany Serpentine Bachelor Chests or Nightstands
By Henredon
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous pair of Georgian style serpentine front bachelor chests or bedside chests By Henredon USA, Circa 1950s Mahogany, with satinwood string inlay and original brass hardware.
Brass
Henredon Georgian Inlaid Mahogany Serpentine Bachelor Chests or Nightstands
By Henredon
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous pair of Georgian style serpentine front bachelor chests or bedside chests By Henredon USA, Circa 1950s Mahogany, with satinwood string inlay and original brass ha...
Brass
Keno Brothers Deco Style Four Drawer Serpentine Chest/ Commode
Located in New York, NY
A classic serpentine front maple veneer four drawer chest sitting on ogee feet with a glass drawer pull.
Maple
Shapely Pair of Italian Rococo Style Olivewood Bombe-Form, Two Drawer Commodes
Located in San Francisco, CA
A shapely pair of Italian rococo style olivewood bombe-form two drawer commodes; each bombe form chest with serpentine front fitted with two long drawers raised on cabriole supports
19th Century Italian Antique Bombe Louis XV Style Venetian Commode
Located in Encinitas, CA
This commode features a crossbow chest serpentine front, with simplified stylized cabriole curved legs.
Walnut
Sold|$14,950 / set
Pair of 18th Century Italian Commodes
Located in Atlanta, GA
A beautifully preserved pair of 18th-century Italian commodes from Southern Italy, crafted in richly grained walnut with exquisite attention to form and symmetry. The serpentine fron...
Walnut
A Pair of Inlaid French Serpentine Shaped Bedside Cabinets
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A Pair of Inlaid French Serpentine Shaped Bedside Cabinets These are a pair of French Louis XVI style marquetry bedside tables, the cabinets are beautifully inlaid with walnut and c...
Walnut
Kindel Furniture Georgian Mahogany Serpentine Twelve-Drawer Dresser, Restored
By Kindel Furniture
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Georgian style double serpentine front twelve-drawer dresser or chest of drawers By Kindel Furniture USA, circa 1960s Carved mahogany, with original brass har...
Brass
Sold|$12,000
Three Drawer French Walnut Provencal Chest
Located in New York, NY
A three drawer French walnut Provencal chest with serpentine front recessed side panels and cabriole front legs each drawer with two bronze and escutcheons.
Walnut
Antique 19th Century Danish Flame Mahogany Highboy with Serpantine Front
Located in Round Top, TX
From the wonderful cove of the crown to the book-matched flame mahogany drawer fronts with their inlaid mother-of-pearl escutcheons, to the serpentine shape of the front, this chest ...
Baker Furniture Georgian Carved Mahogany Three-Drawer Bedside Chest
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Georgian or Chippendale style serpentine front three-drawer bachelor chest or nightstand By Baker Furniture USA, Late 20th Century Carved mahogany, with original brass ...
Brass
18th Century Dutch Marquetry Walnut Chest of Drawers
Located in London, GB
This is a stunning antique Dutch bombe' serpentine fronted marquetry chest of drawers, circa 1770 in date.
Walnut
Baker Furniture Historic Charleston Georgian Inlaid Flame Mahogany 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
Baker Furniture Style French Regency Mahogany Chest of Drawers, Circa 1940s
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional French Regency Louis XVI or Georgian style serpentine front commode or chest of drawers In the manner of Baker Furniture USA, Circa 1940s Stunning book-matched fla...
Brass
Baker Furniture Style Federal Green Lacquered Eight-Drawer Dresser, Refinished
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Federal or Georgian style serpentine front eight-drawer dresser or chest of drawers In the manner of Baker Furniture USA, Circa 1960s Green lacquered mahogany, with...
Brass
19th Century Danish Serpentine Front Chest in Bleached Oak
Located in Charleston, SC
An exceptional, very large 19th century Danish serpentine front chest in bleached oak with some fragment white paint.
Bronze
Pair of Serpentine Front Chests in Louis XV Style
By John Widdicomb
Located in Stamford, CT
Pair of serpentine front chests in Louis XV style. Having recently been professionally sprayed in a grey finish with gilt gold hi lights this serpentine front pair of three drawer ch...
Sold|$1,632
Mahogany Serpentine Front Chest on Chest
Located in Cheshire, GB
Mahogany chest on chest of small proportions the serpentine fronted with four cross banded drawers to the upper section, to a center brush slide and three drawers below all having br...
18th Century Serpentine Front Chest of Drawers
Located in Charleston, SC
18th century low chest of drawers from late Baroque period in richly carved curvaceous serpentine drawer fronts, with handsome bronze hardwares and shaped top and ball feet ... all i...
Oak, Pine
18th Century Danish Serpentine Front Chest of Drawers
Located in Charleston, SC
An exceptional 18th century Danish chest in black with beautifully carved serpentine drawer fronts on bracket feet.
Bronze
19th Century Dutch Serpentine Front Chest of Drawers
Located in Charleston, SC
19th century four drawers Dutch chest in richly carved bleached oak with curvaceous serpentine drawer fronts, shaped top and block feet.
Iron
18th Century Dutch Serpentine Front Chest of Drawers
Located in Charleston, SC
18th century four drawers Dutch chest in richly carved bleached oak with curvaceous serpentine drawer fronts, shaped top, handsome original large iron handles on the side panels and ...
Bronze, Iron
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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