Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Japanese Taisho Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
1970s German Space Age Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Plastic
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
18th Century Swedish Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1860s Japanese Meiji Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
1970s Italian Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
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
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
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Lacquer
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
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 American Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chrome, Steel
20th Century Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Pine
Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble
Mid-20th Century Czech Industrial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mother-of-Pearl
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Granite
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Anglo-Indian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Hollywood Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
1880s Chinese Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Late 19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Lacquer
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar, Wood
2010s Spanish Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bamboo
20th Century German Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Lacquer
1910s French Louis XV Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
21st Century and Contemporary Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1950s German Industrial Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
1970s French Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-19th Century French Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chrome, Steel
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal, Sheet Metal, Zinc
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Stone, Brass
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Plastic
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Early 19th Century Swedish Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Lacquer
Early 1900s French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble
Late 20th Century Belgian Post-Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Lacquer
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.