Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Early 19th Century British Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-19th Century French Empire Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
19th Century American Aesthetic Movement Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 1900s Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Mid-20th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Late 19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble
Late 20th Century Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Hardwood
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Early 19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
1910s Italian Louis XV Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Early 19th Century Italian Empire Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Late 18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Russian Brutalist Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Early 1900s British Edwardian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Milk Glass, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Teak
1970s Italian Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Late 20th Century American Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Composition, Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rosewood
16th Century German Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
1990s American Mission Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Mid-20th Century Italian Renaissance Revival Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
18th Century Italian Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry, Maple, Walnut
1780s English Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
19th Century British Regency Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 19th Century French Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Lacquer, Cedar
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Stone, Marble, Metal, Bronze, Copper, Tin
Late 20th Century American Hollywood Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mirror, Wood
1930s English Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Mid-20th Century American George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Walnut
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar, Pine
Late 20th Century Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
2010s Spanish Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 19th Century American American Colonial Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Fruitwood
1840s Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1850s European Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Poplar
Late 19th Century Eastlake Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Hardwood
1960s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Late 20th Century French Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Late 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Copper
Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 19th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
20th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble, Brass, Bronze
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Maple
19th Century English Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
1930s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
19th Century Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bone, Tortoise Shell, Ebony
Mid-18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
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.