An Unusual Oversized Mahogany Serpentine Front Chest of Drawers, Circa 1785
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An unusual oversized English Santo Domingo mahogany serpentine front chest of drawers with original hardware and bracket feet, circa 1785.
An Unusual Oversized Mahogany Serpentine Front Chest of Drawers, Circa 1785
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An unusual oversized English Santo Domingo mahogany serpentine front chest of drawers with original hardware and bracket feet, circa 1785.
Rare 18th Century Georgian Serpentine-Front Chest
Located in Atlanta, GA
This serpentine front chest of drawers is an excellent piece, constructed of fine mahogany with a supurb golden-brown patina.
Sandalwood
George III Inlaid Serpentine Front Chest of Drawers, circa 1800
Located in Edinburgh, GB
George III inlaid mahogany, serpentine-front chest of drawers, circa 1800. The figured mahogany top has boxwood inlay and cross banding over a thumb moulded edge.
Mahogany
Fine Quality 18th Century Figured Chippendale Design Serpentine Fronted Chest
Located in London, west Sussex
This fine quality and striking 18th century Chippendale design serpentine fronted chest of drawers is comprised of 2 short over 3 long drawers with the original brass handles.
Brass
George III Mahogany Serpentine Fronted Chest of Drawers, circa 1765
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in Northwich, GB
George III mahogany serpentine fronted chest of drawers, circa 1765, comprising four long graduated drawers with cock-beaded edges, the top drawer with a brushing to interior, the dr...
Mahogany
Mahogany Serpentine Front Chest of Drawers
Located in Buckinghamshire, GB
Mahogany chest of four drawers having a serpentine front with brass drop handles and raised on bracket feet.
Sold|$2,800
Walnut Serpentine Front Chest of Drawers
Located in Stamford, CT
Walnut serpentine three drawer chest with metal bat's wing escutcheon. The piece also features bun turned feet. Please note of wear consistent with age including finish loss and wood...
Walnut
Burr Walnut Serpentine Fronted Chest of Drawers
Located in Poling, West Sussex
A charming late 19th-early 20th century burr walnut chest of drawers. Of serpentine form and standing on bracket feet. The top is cross banded and the arrangement of 4 long drawers e...
Walnut, Burl
Waring and Gillow Burr Walnut Serpentine Fronted Chest of Drawers
By Waring & Gillow
Located in Poling, West Sussex
An excellent burr walnut serpentine fronted chest of drawers by the renowned firm Waring and Gillow.
Walnut, Burl
Antique French Walnut Serpentine front chest of drawers
Located in Houston, TX
Dark Walnut chest features 3 drawers with original hardware. Top is similar serpentine shape and sides, as well as corners are paneled. Rests on 4 carved feet
Bronze
Tall Burr Walnut Serpentine Fronted Chest of Drawers
Located in Poling, West Sussex
An attractive and practical tall burr walnut chest of drawers. Of serpentine fronted form and in the Queen Anne style.
Walnut, Burl
Danish Painted Pine Serpentine Front Chest on Bracket Feet
Located in Hudson, NY
The chest late 18th century, the chest painted later in the 19th century. The drawers tops and sides with painted floral decoration.
Pine
Late 18th Century American Serpentine Front Chest of Drawers
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
An elegant late 18th century American (possible Baltimore or Annapolis) mahogany chest of drawers featuring four graduated drawers with original brass pulls resting on graceful splay...
Mahogany
18th Century English Mahogany Serpentine Front Chest of Drawers
Located in Louisville, KY
shaped top over four conforming graduating drawers; raised on tapering bracket feet with a shaped skirt.
Mahogany
English Edwardian Period Inlaid Satinwood Serpentine Fronted Chest of Drawers
Located in Poling, West Sussex
A fine quality Edwardian period inlaid satinwood chest of drawers. Of very good construction in solid satinwood and attractive satinwood veneers onto a mahogany carcas. Of gentle ser...
Satinwood
Sold|$7,900
Mahogany Serpentine Chest
Located in Atlanta, GA
English Mahogany Chippendale Serpentine front chest with blind fretwork corners, ogee bracket feet, c.1770.
Mahogany
Sold|$3,995
Sheraton Mahogany Serpentine Chest
Located in Lawrenceburg, TN
Sheraton solid mahogany serpentine front chest with cross-banded drawer fronts, and four graduated drawers.
Mahogany
Sold|$3,900
Serpentine Painted Chest
Located in New Preston, CT
A terrific ebonized serpentine front chest of drawers with added scrubbed pine top with wonderful blue paint; original brass hardware with covered key holes.
Small Walnut Serpentine Chest of Drawers
Located in Buckinghamshire, GB
Small burr walnut serpentine front chest of four graduated drawers having a crossbanded top and reeded sides with a pull out brushing slide raised on bracket feet
Sold|$4,950
George III Mahogany Serpentine Chest
Located in Millwood, VA
Mahogany inlaid serpentine fronted chest. The serpentine crossbanded, dovetailed drawers have brass oval handles.
Sold|$32,000
Serpentine Chest with Fitted Top Drawer
Located in Harrodsburg, KY
A mahogany serpentine-front chest of drawers with a lovely color and constructed of fine timber.
Frances Elkins Serpentine Chests in Mottled Green Finish
By Frances Elkins
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A spectacular pair of Frances Elkins serpentine front chests in a mottled green finish with black lacquered tops and bronze fluted hardware.
Sold|$4,100
Chest of Drawers
Located in New York, NY
Georgian style mahogany and satinwood serpentine-front chest of drawers with brass pulls
Brass
Sold|$12,000
Georgian Chest of Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
English Georgian Serpentine front Chest with satinwood detail in chamfered corners and top apron.
Mahogany
Sold|$22,453
Fine 18th Century Serpentine Chest of Drawers
Located in London, GB
This superb George III period mahogany serpentine front chest of drawers has an overhanging shaped top with caddy moulded edge, four long graduated drawers, the top one fitted with b...
George III Mahogany Serpentine Chest of Drawers
Located in Witney, OXFORDSHIRE
A very good George III period mahogany serpentine fronted chest of four drawers all retaining the original handles, the top and front crossbanded in rosewood and the whole raised on ...
Mid-18th Century Serpentine Mahogany Chest of Drawers with brushing slide, 1760
Located in GB
This fine and rare example of an English mid-18th century Chippendale period small and well proportioned serpentine fronted chest of drawers is made from rich mahogany with a pleasin...
Mahogany
Italian Painted Commode
Located in San Francisco, CA
Beautifully painted serpentine front chest of drawers. Very primitive painted country scenes on all exposed surfaces.
Sold|$24,000
18th c. Southern Italian Commode
Located in Summerland, CA
A lovely late rococco serpentine-front chest of drawers fitted with a later flatware drawer.
Wood
Sold|$3,333
Late 19th Century French Walnut Semanier
Located in Altrincham, Cheshire
A continental walnut semanier, the seven-drawer serpentine fronted chest with brass handles and raised on a shell carved base with cabriole legs measures 36" W x 15" D x 58" H.
Brass
George III Carved Mahogany Serpentine Chest of Drawers, England circa 1765
By Thomas Chippendale
Located in London, GB
This type of serpentine-fronted chest was often referred to in contemporary inventories as a ‘commode chest’ and is inevitably described generically as ‘Chippendale’ despite variants...
Brass
Sold|$1,050
Serpentine Front Lacquered Mahogany Chest
Located in Raleigh, NC
This stunner in Ming Jade lacquer with gilded pulls is solid mahogany made in the 1950s. With four ample drawers, it can provide storage in a foyer, a bedroom, or a dining room. Curv...
Mahogany
Sold|$3,750
Serpentine Fronted Mahogany Chest of Drawers
Located in Bournemouth, GB
A George III Serpentine fronted mahogany chest of drawers with boxwood lining
Mahogany, Boxwood
Serpentine Front Continental Chest of Drawers
Located in Woodbury, CT
A Great Looking Painted Chest of Drawers, with cabriole legs, a molded top and serpentine front.
Brass
English Regency Serpentine Front Chinoisorie Chest
Located in Natchez, MS
Early 19th c. English Regency Serpentine Chest. Excellent Chinoisorie. Replaced pulls.
Wood
Sold|$18,000
Chippendale Serpentine-Front, Four-Drawer Chest
Located in Litchfield, CT
In a desirable compact size the graduated, serpentine front four drawer chest has a conforming molded edge top and is supported by bold carved ball and claw feet.
Sold|$2,100
White Painted Serpentine Front Tall Chest
Located in Stamford, CT
Offered here is a quality 5 drawer tall chest in a French style with round ribbon brass hardware and claasic carved decoration. Inside the top drawer is a makers brass label "Union ...
Wood
Sold|$12,000
Pair of Serpentine Front White Lacquered Chests
Located in New York, NY
A pair of white lacquered serpentine-style wood chests with three drawers, polished nicked hardware. Marked Baker.
Nickel
English Serpentine Front 4 Drawer Bachelor's Chest
Located in Middleburg, VA
WONDERFUL ENGLISH SMALL BACHELOR'S FOUR DRAWER CHEST IN MAGOGANY AND BURR WALNUT WITH QUARTER VENEERED BURR WALNUT TOP INLAID AROUND THE TOP EDGE WITH MAHOGANY. ALL DRAWERS ARE OAK ...
Brass
Cuban Mahogany Serpentine Fronted Bachelor's Chest of Drawers
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Antique George III Period Cuban Mahogany Serpentine Fronted Bachelor's Chest of Drawers. George III period serpentine fronted antique chest of drawers.
Serpentine-Front Mahogany Chest of Drawers, c. 1770
Located in Atlanta, GA
A serpentine-form chest of three graduated sliding drawers, constructed of mahogany. This piece is distinguished by canted corners detailed by stop-fluting, and corresponding canted ...
Mahogany
19th Century German Chest with Serpentine Front, Circa 1880
Located in Atlanta, GA
19th Century German Chest with Serpentine Front, Circa 1880 This chest has an interesting look which will appeal to a more rustic style project.
Bronze
Regency Period Mahogany Bow-Front Chest w/Serpentine Apron.
Located in Atlanta, GA
A finely proportioned and well-preserved Bow-Front chest of drawers, constructed of fine mahogany and with excellent attention to details.
Mahogany
Sold|$1,100
Serpentine Front Highboy
Located in Treasure Island, CA
American made in striking striped black walnut.
Wood
George III Period Mahogany Serpentine-Fronted Mahogany Chest-of-Drawers
Located in Cambridge, GB
George III period mahogany serpentine-fronted mahogany chest-of-drawers of high quality; the four oak-lined drawers with well-matched pair-veneered fronts and original brass swan's-n...
Sold|$19,500
Serpentine Front Painted Commode
Located in San Francisco, CA
Painted Serpentine Front Commode with three drawers, French circa 1780
Oak
Sold|$6,875
Painted Serpentine Front Commode
Located in New York, NY
Painted blue three-drawer serpentine front commode on modified bun feet
Brass
George III Period Mahogany Serpentine, Fronted Blind Fretted Chest of Drawers
Located in Bradford on Avon, GB
George III period mahogany serpentine, fronted blind fretted chest of drawers.
Mahogany
Hepplewhite Four-Drawer Chest in Mahogany with Serpentine Front, circa 1800
By George Hepplewhite
Located in New York, NY
Hepplewhite Four Drawer Chest In Mahogany With Serpentine Front With Inlay and Flared French Feet, C. 1800
Mahogany
Damascus Serpentine Fronted Mother-of-Pearl and Bone Chest of Drawers
Located in Kent, GB
Of particular note are the rare serpentine front and exceptional detail including a double layer of inlaid bone around the drawers.
Bone, Mother-of-Pearl, Walnut
Edwardian Queen Anne Style Serpentine Fronted Burr Walnut Chest of Drawers
Located in Poling, West Sussex
Of serpentine inverse break-fronted form and with a crossbanded top.
Walnut
Sold|$38,102
18th Century Serpentine Fronted Commode
Located in Edenbridge, Kent
An 18th century serpentine fronted Chippendale period mahogany chest of drawers of low proportions.
Mahogany
Sold|$6,800
Grosfeld House Serpentine Chest
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Fabulous three-drawer chest with serpentine front and brass ribbon and scroll pulls.
Brass
Tall Six Drawer Painted Oak Chest, Serpentine Shaped Front, France circa 1900
Located in Houston, TX
Tall Six Drawer Painted Oak Chest, Serpentine Shaped Front, France c.1900. This chest combines two different aspects that give it a unique appearance.
Oak, Paint
Sold|$8,400
Period Rococo Commode with Serpentine Front
Located in Sheffield, MA
Chest of three drawers on stand, Sweden circa 1780, with cabriole legs and serpentine front.
Brass
Sold|$19,500
French Walnut Commode with serpentine front
Located in San Francisco, CA
French Walnut Commode with serpentine front
Walnut
Sold|$15,000
George III Mahagony Serpentine Chest
Located in Atlanta, GA
A serpentine front mahogany chest with a matching serpentine apron and splayed bracket feet.
Mahogany
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.
Simple or sophisticated, equipped with console, cart or custom cabinetry, these stylish bar areas deserve a toast.
Whether you’re just moving in or ready to give your home a makeover, our guide will give you pointers on tables that are fitting for every room, nook and hallway.
The furniture equivalent of a Swiss Army knife, it's the multifunctional piece you didn't know you needed.
Italian studio DimoreMilano mustered great ingenuity when crafting these sculptural shelves, which are built without any screws.
Leaping into a design project, whether it's refreshing the bedroom or redoing the whole house, can be overwhelming. Luckily, we know more than a few interior designers. You asked questions on Instagram, and now they're answering.
Introduced nearly 500 years ago, curiosity cabinets are finding new fans among today's collectors and designers.
In the hands of New York Heartwoods cofounder Megan Offner, unwanted local trees become works of design art.
From Brooklyn townhouses to Maine campgrounds, Trattie Davies and Jonathan Toews relish a challenge, like transforming a former warehouse space into the new 1stdibs Gallery.