Mid-Century Modern White Lacquered or Walnut Nine-Drawer Chest
By Stanley
Located in Bridport, CT
Nine walnut face drawers, circa 1950 set in white lacquered case raised on open frame five leg base.
Walnut, Wood
Commode by Carlo di Carli, Sormani Edition, Italy, circa 1960
By Sormani, Carlo di Carli
Located in New York, NY
Off-white lacquered wood three drawer chest, fitted with a dark mirrored glass top and patinated pulls, raised on four square patinated legs; produced by Sormani, model D 154.
Brass
Pair of Lacquered Chests manufactured by Pymouth
Located in New York, NY
White lacquered four drawer chests with gold leaf square pulls.
Mid-Century White Lacquer Nine Drawer Dresser by Bassett
By Bassett Furniture
Located in Pasadena, CA
This elegant, mid-century modern dresser by Bassett features nine drawers finished in rich white lacquer. The chest of drawers rests on six tapered legs capped with brass feet.
Brass
Sold|$3,500
Pair of 1940's Lacquered Dressers
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Glamorous pair of newly white lacquered dressers/chests with original bronze pulls
Bronze
Florence Knoll Pair of Dressers or Chests, 1950
By Florence Knoll
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of early four-drawer chests with white lacquer fronts, designed by Florence Knoll for Knoll, circa 1950.
Pair of Louis XV Style Bone Inlay Commodes, Side Tables
Located in Miami, FL
The interior drawers have been finished in clean white lacquer and the chests have been professionally stripped, cleaned, polished, and coated in clear lacquer for long lasting ware.
White Lacquered Chest of Drawers by Carlo di Carli
By Carlo di Carli
Located in Madrid, ES
A 1964 original chest of drawers by Carlo di Carli. A fixed top mirrored glass, three large drawers with handles and sabots in gilt brass.
Brass
Sold|$3,800
Sleek White Lacquered Chest of Drawers
Located in Pasadena, CA
This elegant lacquered dresser from the 1970s features an elegant, raised motif on each of the eight drawers which tapers to form the pull. The body rests on a recessed base and is s...
Wood
Sold|$1,050
Newly Lacquered Campaign Chest
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Newly lacquered white gloss campaign chest with six drawers.
Brass
Pair of 1950s Lemon Lacquered Three-Drawer Commodes
Located in London, GB
Pair of 1950s lemon lacquered three-drawer commodes with 'X' shaped handles.
Lacquer
Mid-Century Modern Dresser: A Fusion of Walnut & White Elegance
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Step into a world of timeless style with our meticulously restored mid-century modern dresser. Handcrafted from high-quality walnut wood, this dresser showcases an impeccable walnut ...
Brass
Mid-Century Modern White Grass Cloth Credenza
By Karl Springer
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Mid-Century white lacquered grass cloth chest of drawers with Lucite handles.
Grasscloth, Paint
Mid-Century White Lacquered Three-Drawer Faux Bamboo Dresser Chest
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Mid-Century Modern newly lacquered in bright white high gloss three-drawer dresser chest.
Metal, Brass
Very Attractive Mid-Century White Lacquer Lingerie Chest
Located in Water Mill, NY
Very attractive Mid-Century white lacquer seven-drawer lingerie chest with stainless steel drawer pulls.
Sold|$2,456
White Mid-Century Modern Chest of Drawers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
These Mid-Century chests of drawers crafted out of wood faux leather have been newly restored and have newly painted an ivory color with lacquer finished. This vintage parchment comm...
Paint, Faux Leather, Wood, Maple, Plywood, Lacquer
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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