Serpentine Tall Chest
Antique Early 1900s Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
20th Century American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Vintage 1920s French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique 1870s English Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century American Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique Early 1900s French Renaissance Revival Commodes and Chests of Dr...
Oak
Antique 1820s Danish Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique Mid-18th Century Danish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique Late 18th Century Unknown George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Scottish Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
20th Century North American Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique Late 18th Century Danish Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Antique 18th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Kingwood
Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Kingwood
Antique Early 1900s French French Provincial Benches
Oak
Antique 1890s French Jewelry Boxes
Wood
Antique Early 19th Century American American Classical Historical Memora...
Brass
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Cabinets
Bronze
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Cabinets
Marble, Bronze
Antique Mid-19th Century Irish Chippendale Dining Room Chairs
Mahogany
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Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Blanket Chests
Mahogany, Cedar
Antique 1880s French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
20th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Wood
Early 20th Century Late Victorian Dressers
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Brass
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Lacquer, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century French Gothic Revival Cabinets
Walnut
Antique Early 19th Century British Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of ...
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century English Early Victorian Commodes and Chests o...
Mahogany
20th Century American Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Beech
Antique Early 1900s French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Vintage 1950s French Industrial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Recent Sales
Antique 19th Century American Hepplewhite Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Serpentine
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 19th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique Early 1900s French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Antique Mid-19th Century French Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique Early 1900s English Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Kingwood
Vintage 1940s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
20th Century English Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Hardwood
Early 20th Century European Queen Anne Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Vintage 1930s Argentine Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Antique Early 1900s English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 18th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-20th Century Danish Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Swedish Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Kingwood
Early 20th Century British Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique Mid-18th Century Danish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Antique Late 18th Century Danish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Oak
Early 20th Century French Country Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Vintage 1970s Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mirror, Wood
Early 20th Century Italian Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Vintage 1960s Canadian Sheraton Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique 18th Century European Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Vintage 1950s English Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Early 20th Century Tudor Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Antique 18th Century Dutch Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Vintage 1920s French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique Late 19th Century French Renaissance Revival Commodes and Chests...
Oak
20th Century European Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Vintage 1930s Great Britain (UK) Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Early 20th Century French Renaissance Revival Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Walnut
Early 2000s American Chippendale Dressers
Brass
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Antique Late 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Late 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Kingwood
Antique Late 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Kingwood
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fruitwood, Palisander, Kingwood
Antique Late 18th Century Danish Dressers
Wood, Oak
Vintage 1950s American Dressers
Brass
Antique Late 18th Century Danish Dressers
Wood, Oak
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Night Stands
Marble, Bronze
Antique Late 18th Century English Georgian Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Night Stands
Wood, Fruitwood, Kingwood, Mahogany, Rosewood
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wicker, Wood
Early 20th Century English Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Early 20th Century English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
21st Century and Contemporary English Regency Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Mahogany, Giltwood
Early 20th Century North American Chinese Chippendale Dressers
Mahogany
Antique Early 19th Century English George III Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Brass
20th Century American Louis XV Dressers
Mahogany
Early 20th Century Louis XV Dressers
Satinwood
Antique Late 18th Century Danish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Serpentine Tall Chest For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Serpentine Tall Chest?
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.
- 1stDibs ExpertOctober 19, 2021A tall chest of drawers is known as a standard chest of drawers and also as a vertical chest. These are tall and narrow storage pieces. On 1stDibs, find a variety of antique and vintage tall chests of drawers.
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