Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Late 18th Century English Georgian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Early 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
1860s Japanese Meiji Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
18th Century Italian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1940s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1990s American Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
1830s German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble, Brass, Bronze
1820s German Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
19th Century English Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble
Early 20th Century English Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze, Other
2010s American Hepplewhite Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Early 19th Century German Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century Japanese Showa Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
17th Century English William and Mary Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
20th Century British Other Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-18th Century Italian Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 20th Century English Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Spruce
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
1930s German Industrial Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Pine, Plywood
Early 20th Century English Industrial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Mahogany
1920s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Early 20th Century English Industrial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
2010s Spanish Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chestnut, Cedar
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
1970s Spanish Hollywood Regency Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-18th Century English Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century Italian Empire Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century Korean Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Nickel
Mid-19th Century German Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Spruce
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1840s Austrian Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
1980s Chinese Chinoiserie Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Elm
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
1990s American Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Mid-19th Century French Empire Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble, Brass
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
1840s French Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
18th Century Italian Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
19th Century Country Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bamboo, Wicker, Rattan, Wood
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Mid-18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique and Vintage Chests of Drawers and Commodes for Sale: Find Art Deco Commodes and Mid-Century Modern Chests of Drawers on 1stDibs
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.