Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Late 20th Century American Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Composition, Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Russian Brutalist Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
1880s Japanese Meiji Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal, Copper
Late 19th Century Swedish Empire Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Early 20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century American Chippendale Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Glass, Mahogany
1770s Italian Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
18th Century European Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble, Bronze
Early 2000s European Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
1820s British Georgian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
19th Century American Industrial Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
20th Century French Aesthetic Movement Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Faux Bamboo
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Late 20th Century European British Colonial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bamboo, Rattan, Reed, Willow
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
18th Century French Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
1940s Danish Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine, Plywood
Late 20th Century Unknown Organic Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Hardwood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 2000s European Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1950s English Industrial Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
2010s Spanish Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century English Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Mid-20th Century Italian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Copper
19th Century French Other Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Early 19th Century Belgian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Pine
1970s Swedish Minimalist Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Early 20th Century Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
1950s French Louis XV Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
1930s American Streamlined Moderne Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-19th Century American Adirondack Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Late 19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Cedar
19th Century Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Burl
Mid-19th Century French Empire Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1860s French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Kingwood, Mahogany, Satinwood
1850s Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1960s American Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 2000s European Colonial Revival Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
1930s Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Lacquer, Cedar
1890s German Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Fruitwood, Walnut
19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Burl
1960s Italian Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Teak
Late 18th Century Japanese Edo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 1800s English George III Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry
Early 20th Century Dutch Gothic Revival Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wrought Iron, Metal
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Early 2000s European Gustavian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Wood, Walnut
2010s American Post-Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Lacquer, Hardwood
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Olive, Walnut, Burl
21st Century and Contemporary American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, 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.