Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Early 20th Century Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Early 20th Century Swedish Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch, Pine
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wool, Burl
1980s North American Renaissance Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
2010s Italian Organic Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 19th Century English George III Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Softwood
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1890s French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 2000s European Colonial Revival Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Late 18th Century Georgian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar, Pine
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1750s Italian Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fruitwood
Mid-20th Century English Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chrome
1890s Spanish Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Early 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Magnets
1920s French Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble
1790s English George III Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Boxwood
Early 2000s Swedish Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Mid-20th Century American Hollywood Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1820s European Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Hardwood
Mid-19th Century English Early Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
1920s French Louis XV Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Teak
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rosewood
Early 1900s French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Late 17th Century Italian Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1970s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 19th Century Italian Renaissance Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Hardwood, Paint
Late 19th Century European Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Softwood
Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
18th Century English George III Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Other
1880s French Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Late 19th Century French Art Nouveau Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
1970s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Stainless Steel
Late 20th Century American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
18th Century German Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century British Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century French Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1980s Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bamboo, Wood
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1970s Chinoiserie Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Leather, Paint
1710s Italian Louis XIV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chrome, Steel
1810s English Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century American Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
1980s Italian Hollywood Regency Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1940s French Louis XV Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1980s North American Gustavian Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1870s Russian Regency Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble, Brass
1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Russian Brutalist Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Late 19th Century Hungarian Country Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
19th Century Dutch Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
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.