Commodes and Chests of Drawers
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 19th Century French Industrial Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
2010s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch, Oak
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
18th Century French Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ormolu
Late 19th Century German Art Nouveau Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary German Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Plywood
Early 1900s Hungarian Baroque Revival Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry, Sycamore, Walnut, Pine
19th Century British Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ormolu
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 18th Century English Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1850s English Regency Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 1800s Italian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
18th Century French Régence Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Mid-19th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble
1830s Italian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary German Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Plywood
19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 19th Century Russian Empire Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Palisander
1850s Swedish Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
18th Century Danish Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Mid-20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 19th Century English George III Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
1990s American Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1960s Italian Space Age Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chrome
21st Century and Contemporary British Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Steel
1930s Italian Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Goatskin
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Aluminum
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Steel
Early 1900s Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1980s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bamboo, Hardwood
2010s American Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Glass, Oak
2010s Mexican Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Plywood
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chrome, Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chrome, Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chrome, Steel
1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Goatskin, Macassar
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak, Wood
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
1960s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Nickel
Early 18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
2010s French Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Cherry, Oak
2010s Danish Bauhaus Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Leather, Mahogany
Late 20th Century British Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
19th Century European Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Burl
Early 19th Century French Directoire Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary German Organic Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Maple, Walnut
1950s Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique and Vintage Chests of Drawers and Commodes for Sale on 1stDibs
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.