Commodes and Chests of Drawers
1920s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
2010s American Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary German Organic Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Maple, Walnut
1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Goatskin, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1980s Unknown Organic Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bamboo, Cane, Mahogany
2010s German Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
2010s German Organic Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Plywood
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
2010s German Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
2010s British Louis XIV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
2010s German Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
2010s French Other Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rock Crystal, Brass
2010s German Industrial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
2010s French Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rock Crystal, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
2010s Canadian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Macassar
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
2010s German Bauhaus Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
2010s British Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
2010s Canadian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Glass, Acrylic, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rock Crystal, Brass
2010s American Post-Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Lacquer, Hardwood
2010s German Industrial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal, Aluminum
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
2010s British Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
2010s English Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary German Organic Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Plywood
2010s Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
2010s German Industrial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
2010s Irish Organic Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
2010s Irish Organic Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
2010s French Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Shell
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Murano Glass, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Zebra Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mirror, Wood
19th Century European Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
2010s German Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal, Aluminum
1850s Austrian Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fir
Late 18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique 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.