Commodes and Chests of Drawers
18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Mid-20th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
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
1940s American Streamlined Moderne Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
19th Century American High Victorian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Burl
1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rosewood
1890s French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1970s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Aluminum, Brass
Late 20th Century Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal, Bronze
Mid-20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rosewood
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry, Oak
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rosewood
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chrome, Steel
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ormolu
1940s Japanese Showa Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Spruce, Walnut
Mid-18th Century Danish Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Late 19th Century American Hepplewhite Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Poplar
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Onyx, Marble, Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 1900s Belgian Gustavian Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
1950s Italian Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Kingwood
19th Century Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 19th Century English Campaign Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Late 20th Century American Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1920s American Adam Style Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Satinwood
1930s Italian Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut, Burl
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Russian Brutalist Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
1850s French Louis Philippe Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble
1810s French Louis XVI Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1920s French Louis XVI Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century Chinoiserie Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Pine
2010s American Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Giltwood, Lacquer
Early 1900s French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Ormolu
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Hardwood, Cypress
19th Century English Regency Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1960s Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Hardwood
Late 20th Century French Post-Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Plastic, Laminate, Resin, Wood
1950s Italian Louis XV Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Late 19th Century French Empire Revival Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ormolu
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chrome, Steel
1760s English George III Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century British Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1970s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 19th Century Danish Biedermeier Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
19th Century Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze, Ormolu
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar, Wood
1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch
1930s Austrian Bauhaus Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Steel
2010s Italian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
18th Century Danish Baroque Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak, Walnut
1930s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 19th Century Eastlake Antique Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Hardwood
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.